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Shillong, October 20, 2022: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said that benefits of FOCUS scheme are being extended to urban Producers Groups in the State.

As part of this initiative, Producer Groups (PGs) comprising 10 or more members with income generating activities can avail Rs. 5000 each as individual cash benefit under the umbrella of the group.

“A weavers group or pickle making group can come together as a Producer Group under FOCUS in urban areas and avail the benefit of the scheme. Even youth groups doing different income generating activities can also form such groups and avail its benefits,” said Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at a programme to celebrate the success of FOCUS at Baghmara in South Garo Hills.

He told the gathering that registration for FOCUS plus across the State will continue till November 30th and in the first week of December the funds will be transferred to the beneficiaries.

He said that during the registration the first instalment of ₹1000 will be disbursed and the second instalment of ₹4000 will be disbursed in the first week of December.

Under FOCUS and FOCUS plus, 4.5 lakh people across the State will benefit. The Government has earmarked whooping Rs. 500 cr for this flagship initiative.

Addressing over 3000 plus farming communities, youth organisations and people from different walks of life at Baghmara, the Chief Minister said that the Government will continue to support the farming sector and will ensure that the youth of the State are given opportunities for sustained livelihood.

During the programme, he also distributed cheques under Focus and handed over Focus plus cards to beneficiaries. He also handed over cheques under Yess Meghalaya to youth organisations and under Progress scheme piglets and Kuroiler chicks to different beneficiaries of the district.

He also handed over cheques to village organisations of SHGs a total sum of Rs. 2.15 cr in the district under Community Investment Fund for the current financial year.

The Chief Minister who has been touring different parts of the State to promote flagship schemes of the Government also advised the beneficiaries of Focus scheme to utilise the funds received for common good of the member. He said that funds received can be used to upscale their ongoing farming activities as well as used as “revolving funds” amongst the group members.

He said that through revolving funds and intervention carried out within the group, the members can expand their enterprise and agricultural activities.

At the event, the Chief Minister also distributed cheques under “Green Meghalaya” initiative to various community organisations for their endeavour to conserve natural resources and forest. The Payment for Ecosystem Services which is an initiative to support communities for conservation, restoration and rejuvenation of forest areas and its resources branded as “Green Meghalaya” aims to encourage conservation at the grassroot level.

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.