Shillong, Jul 26: The National Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Exhibition concluded on a high note with a valedictory programme that underscored the importance of strengthening market linkages, fostering industry participation, and promoting institutional convergence to accelerate agricultural transformation and entrepreneurship across the North East.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Jyoti V Vastrad, Dean of the College of Community Science, Tura. This was followed by the release of the CAU Imphal Institutional Profile Video. The event also witnessed the release of the CAU Imphal Farm Magazine, published by the Directorate of Extension, along with a series of publications on the agricultural economies of the Northeastern states, namely Transformation of the Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Economy, Transformation of the Manipur Agriculture Economy, Transformation of the Meghalaya Agriculture Economy, Transformation of the Nagaland Agriculture Economy, Transformation of the Sikkim Agriculture Economy, and Transformation of the Tripura Agriculture Economy.
The report of the National Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Exhibition was presented by Dr. Ranima Saikia, Associate Professor and one of the Organising Secretaries, highlighting the participation of buyers, entrepreneurs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), artisans, startups, and agri-based enterprises from across the country.
Delivering the valedictory address, the chief guest, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Additional Secretary, DARE & Secretary, ICAR, highlighted the challenges and opportunities before agri-entrepreneurs in contributing to India’s economic growth. He identified climate change, transboundary zoonotic diseases, water scarcity, and connectivity as major concerns while appreciating the efforts of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, in promoting agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and value addition in the Northeast.
Addressing the gathering, Kadirvel Govindswamy, Director, ICAR, emphasised the need to create stronger markets for unique indigenous products such as black turmeric. He called for enhanced industry participation, robust certification and legal support systems, greater institutional convergence, regular impact assessment of buyer-seller meets, and increased focus on commercially scalable products with national and global market potential.
The guests of honour, Lalit Mohan Sharma, DIG, BSF, Tura, and Ian Borney Saiborne, Director of Meghalaya’s Department of Food Processing, also addressed the gathering and appreciated the initiative for creating a vibrant platform that connected producers with markets while promoting entrepreneurship and value-added products from the region.
Representing the investor community, Anupam Bansal, Executive Director of Liberty Shoes., appreciated the quality, authenticity and uniqueness of products from the North East and highlighted immense opportunities in logistics, tourism, branding and long-term business partnerships.
Speaking on behalf of the exhibitors, a representative from K Warshong, Maligi, Shillong, expressed gratitude to the organisers for providing an excellent platform to showcase products, interact with prospective buyers and establish valuable business linkages.
The programme was also attended by BDR Tiwari, Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner & Secretary, Elections Department, and Jagdish Chelani, Executive Director, Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS), along with senior officials, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans, buyers and delegates from across the country.
A special prize distribution ceremony was held to recognise outstanding exhibitors in different categories. The prizes were distributed by Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A Sangma. Congratulating the winners, she applauded the artisans for their creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to preserving the rich indigenous traditions of the North East. Sangma, who was the patron of the event, encouraged them to continue developing high-quality, sustainable, and eco-friendly products that reflect the region’s unique cultural heritage. She further urged the artisans to strive for national and international recognition by enhancing the quality, branding, and marketability of their products, enabling the unique indigenous products of the North East to reach wider markets.
