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CM launches FOCUS+ scheme to benefit all households of Meghalaya

Shillong, July 28: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday launched FOCUS+ as an expansion to his flagship initiative FOCUS to benefit all households across Meghalaya. In its new format, FOCUS+ will provide an opportunity to families to take up additional activities and contribute towards agriculture value chain development. Under this scheme, a financial aid of Rs 5,000 per household will be provided directly to the beneficiary’s bank account.

The scheme launched at an event in Resubelpara, North Garo Hills, is likely to provide aid to large sections of Meghalaya’s rural population and will look to transform lives of the people of the State. Meghalaya, a state that is progressing fast on various parameters including getting a top rating in NITI Aayog’s Innovation Index, ranked among the best in Startup ecosystem, global awards, and recognition, looks to be on course to realizing its vision of being among the top 10 states in 10 years.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Sangma said, “Over the past four and half years Meghalaya is making constant progress on various fronts. One of our key priority areas is our farmers; our farmers’ support initiative FOCUS has provided much needed impetus for upscaling of farming activities, results of which are for everyone to see. Initiatives like mission mode projects in Lakadong, Piggery, Milk, Spice, Ginger, Aroma and others are providing necessary means to build a support system for our farmers with interventions from farm to market.”

“FOCUS is very close to my heart, because it helped a large section of our farming community! And FOCUS+ will provide much needed aid to ensure every family in rural Meghalaya is empowered to realize their true potential. The scheme will provide Rs.5,000 cash benefits to households across the State. This is part of our vision to bring all our farmers under collectivization theme and help them through various interventions, in turn doubling their income,” added Sangma.

FOCUS, originally launched in March 2021, has benefitted 2.45 lakh farmers till date. It was launched to boost agri economic activities by collectivization of Producer Groups to farm and non-farm produce.

Under FOCUS+, households would be provided with a FOCUS+ card as an Identification and cash transfer of Rs. 5,000 as family benefit. Individuals would need to get registered under a producer group to avail the benefit. This is an additional benefit over Rs. 5,000 to producer group account from FOCUS scheme.

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.