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Chief Minister distributes cheques under the government’s various flagship programs to beneficiaries at Umlyngka

Shillong, December, 3,2022: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday distributed cheques under the government’s various flagship programs to beneficiaries at a function held at Umlyngka Grounds, Laimer, Mylliem.

Also present during the function was Minister, Community & Rural Development etc Hamletson Dohling.

Expressing happiness to initiate various flagship programs in one mega function, the Chief Minister said, “These programs reflect the commitment of the government to keep the interest of the State and its people as the top priority and to make Meghalaya one among the top ten states in the country.” He informed that there are over 4.5 lakh families in the State whose livelihood are connected to the farming sector and hence the FOCUS and FOCUS+ programs are initiatives of the government to help and support the farmers to augment, expand and sustain the farming activities.

The Chief Minister also informed that the government intends to make the flagship programs an annual feature. “The government will be infusing Rs. 400 crores into the rural economy every year and we urge the beneficiaries to use the money in a productive manner,” he added.

The Chief Minister also informed that the YESS Meghalaya program is a similar program designed for the youth to carry out several youth related programs. “We have to channelize the energy of the youth in the right direction and support them in their passion for Sports or Music and allow them to do good and positive things in life,” he added.

Highlighting the PESS program, the Chief Minister said that it is an initiative to promote Grassroots Level Response towards Ecosystem Enhancement and Nurturing or GREEN Meghalaya. “Ninety per cent of the forests in the State are community owned and now we are giving you the money to protect our forests,” he said.

He also gave an insight into the PROGRESS program that is created to increase self sufficiency and also create livelihood opportunities in Poultry and Piggery.

The Chief Minister later distributed cheques, sanction letters and FOCUS+ Identity Cards to the beneficiaries.

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.