2020 to be declared as ‘Year of Farmers’
TURA: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday declared Meghalaya Farmers’ Day on December 4 during the inaugural function of 2nd Farmers Parliament which was held at SMELC, Dakopgre Tura in the presence of Thomas A Sangma, Adviser to the Chief Minister, and officials of the various departments.
While addressing a huge gathering of officials and farmers from the region including Khasi Hills and participants from Bangladesh, Sangma congratulated the team and the department for making the event a successful one.
Emphasising on the different issues and challenges faced by the farmers of the region and in order to look after these issues as demanded by the public and farmers of the state, the Farmers’ Commission has been instituted by the state government whereby the first Farmers Parliament was held in Shillong last year.
The chief minister, moreover, stated that most of the time, farmers do not receive information about various schemes implemented by the central and state government, thereby, missing out the opportunities.
“Therefore, through this Farmers’ Parliament, the government aims to inform the farmers and provide these benefits to them,” Sangma added.
He, further, mentioned that various schemes have been implemented by the state government such as Jackfruit Mission, which was launched last year with an estimated amount of 78 crore, Milk Mission, which was implemented by the Government of India and NCDC with an estimated amount of 221 crore for training and other financial assistance to dairy farmers for increase in milk production in the state, including Muga Mission and Food Processing Directorate for the benefit of local entrepreneurs of the region in these sectors.
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, Conrad said the government will prepare a policy to legalise the Meghalaya Fruit and Wine Policy in the state.
He also informed that local entrepreneurs of the region would be sent for training in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in January.
Stating that first 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 December 4 will be declared as Meghalaya Farmers’ Day, while the year 2020 will be declared as ‘Year of the Farmers’ by the state government.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Farmers’ Commission, KN Kumar informed that the Farmers’ Commission aims at addressing the gap on the support system of the government machinery for the farmers, and also emphasised on the solutions which the farmers can cater from the Farmers’ Parliament.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture, P Shakil Ahmmed; Board and Member, AG Connectors, Netherlands, Walter De Boef; Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Ram Singh; District Agriculture Officer, Tura, MD Arengh, among others also spoke during the inaugural function.
Earlier in the function, the Best Farmers’ Awardees Certificates were also distributed to the Farmers of Garo Hills region.