+913642224282 cmomeghalaya@gmail.com


Shillong | May 18 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma visited Tangmang village under the Pynursla sub-division in East Khasi Hills on Saturday, marking the first time a sitting chief minister has set foot in the village.

Tangmang, known for its over two-century-old heritage, was founded by settlers seeking refuge following a devastating earthquake. Its name, “Tangmang,” meaning “precisely right” or “adequately sufficient,” reflects its deep-rooted cultural significance.

Renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, with cascading waterfalls and rivers flowing into the Bangladeshi plains, Tangmang is also a hub of traditional bamboo craftsmanship and weaving. During his visit, the Chief Minister was given a warm reception by the residents, who showcased their intricate bamboo and handicraft products, particularly handwoven mats.

Impressed by the exceptional craftsmanship of the villagers, the Chief Minister directed his officials to procure the village’s products in bulk for gifting to visiting dignitaries and high-ranking officials, branding them as unique representations of Meghalaya’s artisanal excellence.

“This is a memorable visit,” he said. “As a government, we believe that development must be holistic—while we invest in large infrastructure, we must also implement initiatives that directly uplift people’s lives.”

Stating that government is committed to uplift rural economy through different activities, he said, “Supporting our artisans and weavers is a core vision of the MDA government. Through various welfare schemes, including support to Self Help Groups (SHGs) and village organizations, we aim to empower local communities and improve livelihoods.”

He also announced the establishment of a Handicraft Training Centre in Tangmang village. The center will include modern infrastructure, machinery, and residential facilities for trainees to learn from master craftsmen in the village.

He also encouraged the community to upscale their production, enhance product development, and explore markets beyond the state to maximize their potential.

During the visit, the Chief Minister also held a CM-Connect session, engaging directly with villagers and listening to their concerns. Responding to a request from a local student, he assured that a new building for Tangmang Secondary School will be sanctioned under the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund.

Ends.

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.