Meghalaya Govt Declares December 4 as Farmers' Day

Tura, December 9, 2019:

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma declared Meghalaya Farmers Day on 4th December, during the inaugural function of the 2nd Farmers Parliament that was held at SMELC in Dakopgre of Tura.

While addressing a huge gathering of officials and farmers from the region including Khasi Hills and participants from Bangladesh, Conrad K Sangma congratulated the team and the department for making the event a successful one.

Emphasizing on the different issues and challenges faced by the farmers of the region and in order to look after these issues and as demanded by the public and farmers of the state, the Farmers Commission has been instituted by the Government of Meghalaya, whereby the first Farmers' Parliament was held in Shillong last year.

Moreover, he stated that most of the time, farmers do not receive information about various schemes implemented by the central and state governments, and thereby missed out the opportunities and therefore, through this Farmers' Parliament, the government aims to inform the farmers and provide these benefits to them, he added.

Further, the Chief Minister also mentioned that various schemes have been implemented by the state government such as Jackfruit Mission, Milk Mission, and Muga Mission.

Mentioning about the producers of local wine from the fruits available in the region, and in order to encourage and promote it as an industry in future, the government will be preparing a policy to legalized the Meghalaya Fruit and Wine Policy in the state, he said.

He also informed that local entrepreneurs of the region would be sent for training in Kerela and Tamil Nadu in January next year.

Stating that 1st Farmers Parliament was held on December 4, last year, and in order to mark the day and remember its significance, the Chief Minister announced that 4th December will be declared as Meghalaya Farmers Day, while the year 2020 will be declared as “Year of the Farmers” by the government of Meghalaya.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Farmers Commission, K N Kumar informed that the Farmers Commission aims to address the gap on the support system of the government machinery for the farmers and also emphasized on the solutions which the farmers can cater from the Farmers parliament.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya Dr. P Shakil Ahmmed, Dr. Walter De Boef, Board and Member, AG Connectors, Netherlands, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh, District Agriculture Officer, Tura M D Arengh, President Bangladesh Organic Products Manufacturers Association, Muhammed Abdus Salam, President, HFU, Meghalaya Commander Shangpliang were among others who spoke during the inaugural function.

In the technical session that followed, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Tura Paulette A Sangma explained in detail about the Jackfruit Mission, Assistant Manager, Shillong Milk Union, Shillong Balrang A Sangma delivered on Milk Mission while Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, Shillong Dr. C Shilla spoke about the Piggery Mission being implemented in the state.

Earlier in the function, the Chief Guest also distributed the Best Farmers’ Awardees Certificate to the Farmers of Garo Hills region.

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