Farmers’ training Centre to be set up in East Garo Hills
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government will be signing an agreement with Practical Training Centre (PTC), an organization from the Netherlands to provide training to the farmers of the State.
The proposed agreement which would be signed by the Government with the PTC would be on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said while adding that the agreement is likely to be signed sometime in November.
“This initiative which has been taken is a follow exercise of the State delegation visit to Netherlands last year. We have been planning to rope this organization from Netherlands for a while now,” Dr Sangma said while speaking to reporters after his meeting with the representatives of PTC on Saturday.
He said the State Government would facilitate the setting up of a training centre where PTC would be giving training on specific designs to equip farmers with the latest technology and equipments in the field of farming.
“The Government has come up with this programme as part of its attempt to enhance the capacity building of the farmers in the State with different modes of farming,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the Government is also contemplating to carry forward this programme on a mission mode which would be related to various aspects of agriculture and its allied sectors.
The Chief Minister said this training is aimed at channelling youth towards agricultural activities.
“As of now, agricultural activities are primarily concentrated among people who does not have access to other forms of employment. We want to create interest among the youth to take up agriculture and allied activities,” Dr Sangma said.
The Government also wants to introduce a complete value chain to ensure maximum benefits to the farmers through its various agricultural produce, the Chief Minister said.
He also informed that the training would be organized across the State in various horticulture hubs but the main training centre would be set up at Sangonggre in East Garo Hills district.