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Shillong, May 05, 2022: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday inaugurated the Northeast Food Show at Polo Grounds, Shillong in presence of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh and Sikkim Tourism Minister Bidu Singh Panth.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said, “Northeast Food Show has given a platform for the entrepreneurs and farmers of the State and the Northeast access to international markets.”

Meghalaya in collaboration with SIAL, world’s No. 1 Food Innovation Network had organised the first event in the State in 2019 and this is the second edition of the mega food exhibition show, where buyers and sellers from different parts of the region and South East Asian nations are participating.

“This Northeast Food show is a great platform to bring different stakeholders together and increase the value of agri-horti products,” he added.

He further said that the event is not only a food show but a platform where entrepreneurs, farmers, cooperative societies and Self Help Groups can grow exponentially. “This show is a culmination of all the activities and processes in farming, production, packaging and entrepreneurship so that value is added to the final product to be able to compete with the best in the world,” he said.

He also informed that it is a North East show because the international market looks at variety and scale which Meghalaya alone might not be able to produce for a buyer. “We are trying to expand and reach out to the South East Asian countries as well,” the Chief Minister said.

Terming Vietnam as ‘shining example’ in the food processing sector globally, Chief Minister said that the Northeast as a region together can become a global platform and work together to market the products.

“The way the Vietnam government, the country and the people of Vietnam have transformed and become an enterprising nation, a nation driven by entrepreneurs, where the government plays the role of policymaker. I think Vietnam is one country which I have deep respect for, and I feel we can learn a lot from them,” he said.

He said that Meghalaya will continue to host the Northeast Food Show and will ensure that the event becomes better and bigger in the years to come.  “We want to make it better as we go along but whatever we have achieved is very satisfactory and I am happy to see the difference that we have made in people’s lives today,” he added.

He also expressed his gratitude to the ambassador of Vietnam Pham Sanh Chau, who is attending the programme. In 2019, food and beverage manufacturing contributed 17 billion US dollars to the GDP of Vietnam, and provided employment to 3 million people.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang lauded Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for conceptualising such an event that promotes farmers and agripreneurs and entrepreneurs from across the region. He said that the event will go a long way in promoting the agri-horti products of Northeast.

Sikkim is a participating State in the Northeast Food Show.

“Northeast is blessed with rich agro diversity. Through this show, different States of the region will be able to share their agriculture experience and collaborate for the progress of our great nation,” Tamang said.

He also lauded efforts of the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the thrust for the progress and development of the Northeastern region.

The inauguration function was also attended by Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador, Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ram Prasad Subedi, Charge d’Affaire, Embassy of Nepal in India, First Secretary to Embassy of Japan in India, Ikko Watenabe, Minister, Government of Sikkim, Bidu Singh Panth, Chief Secretary, Meghalaya, R V Suchiang, diplomats and leaders from Chile, Poland, Austria, United Kingdom and European Union, officials from Government of India and other states, SIAL, Exhibitors, Entrepreneurs and buyers.

Initiatives : Agriculture

Launch of “Restart Meghalaya Mission’ on 15th August 2020

The Mission comprise of a series of interventions to support farmers and entrepreneurs by enabling them to build growth-promoting basic infrastructure and services. Under this Mission, 1917iTEAMS – the IT Platform aimed at enabling farmers access to agricultural information, crop advisories and markets will be expanded logistically through induction of another 100 vehicles.

Creation of the Directorate of Food Processing on May 2018

With the objective of seizing opportunities in the sector and the untapped food processing potential of the state for uplifting the livelihoods of farmers and value chain actors, the Government of Meghalaya created the Directorate of Food Processing (DFP) as a one-stop agency to handle all matters relating to food processing in the state and to deal with all central government Ministries and Agencies (viz. Ministries of Agriculture, and Food Processing, SFAC, NCDC, NABARD, etc.) in all matters pertaining to the development of agricultural food processing sector.

First Ever Farmer’s Parliament held on 4th - 5th December 2018

The parliament was organised by the state department of agriculture in collaboration with Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the Hill Farmers' Union (HFU). As a step toward the promotion of new technologies, HFU with the support of Meghalaya government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence App for farmers — called Nongrep (nongrep in Khasi language means farmer) with its software partner Impetus Solutions from Hyderabad — as a social innovation project. This app will address matters of farm aggregations, soil health and disease identification, crop yield, farm produce pickups, market linkage and retail sellers app.

Launch of the Farmer’s Portal on 7th May 2018

The Meghalaya Famers’ Portal (www.megfarmers.gov.in) of the Department of Agriculture is a platform for farmers to seek any information related to agriculture. Detailed information on farmers’ insurance, agricultural storage, crops, extension activities, seeds, pesticides, farm machineries, etc. is provided. Details of fertilizers, market prices, package and practices, programmes, welfare schemes are also given.

Awards & Recognitions
  • Meghalaya has been selected for the Commendation award in 'Total foodgrains Category-III' for 2017-18. The award consists of a citation and an amount of Rs. 1 crore.
  • Meghalaya Agriculture Department and the MIE Meghalaya Team won the '7th eNabling North East (eNorth East) Award 2019-20' in the 'Agriculture & Rural Development' category for 1917 iTEAMS project which is a project in collaboration with Digital India.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded Meghalaya on May 2018 the Krishi Commendation Award for the year 2015-16, in recognition of the commendable foodgrains production achieved by the State.
  • Meghalaya has been adjudged the Most Improved Small State in the category of Agriculture and received the India Today – "The State of the States” Award on 23rd November 2018.