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CM inaugurates Workshed of NELA Handloom & Silk Production Unit at Mawkasiang

Shillong, February 2, 2022: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, today inaugurated the production cum training center of NELA Handloom and Silk Production Unit at Mawkasing, Umroh in the presence of MLA, 13 Mawrynkyneng, Pynnaid Singh Syiem, Commissioner of Textiles, F R Kharkongor, Director, Sericulture & Weaving, C B Sangma and Proprietor and Entrepreneur of NELA Handloom & Silk Production Unit cum Training Center James E Dkhar.

Speaking to the gathering, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that the government has always been supportive of young entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams in spite of the challenges that they face in their journey of entrepreneurship. “The journey of Bah James is truly inspiring and exemplary for other young entrepreneurs to believe and follow their passion and never give up to the challenges they face,” he said. He added that in the next ten years about five lakh youth will have to be provided with jobs and beyond the government sector it will be entrepreneurship that will provide different kinds of jobs to the youth.

He further said that one of the biggest challenges of the government in the next few years will be to provide jobs to the youth and the government has specially been stressing on entrepreneurship so that the youth do not only seek jobs but provide jobs to others. The Chief Minister also announced financial assistance of ten lakhs to NELA Handloom & Silk Production Unit to upscale the production and training.

It may be mentioned here that James E Dkhar, the proprietor of the textile production unit at Mawkasiang, Umroh was presented the ‘Entrepreneur of the Month’ Award in January 2019. The NELA Handloom Training Centre is the first Flying8 Loom Training Centre in India.

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.