GUWAHATI: A three-day farm exposition cum agri-business development meet here will provide a single platform for farmers and entrepreneurs from the Northeast to know more and benefit from the central schemes and grants on offer.
Fifteen central government ministries and over 50 other organisations are taking part in Vibrant North East 2018 at the Veterinary College Ground, Khanapara from Thursday.
New Delhi-based NGO, Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) is organising the meet.
The Indian Council of Food and Agriculture, North Eastern Council, APEDA, Union ministry of science and technology, Union ministry of home affairs among other departments are supporting the event which also features the North East Progressive Farmers Convention and All India Farmers Alliance (AIFA) Progressive Farmer Awards 2018.
“This is the fourth edition of the event and our main objective is to bring progressive farmers and entrepreneurs from the region to a common platform to make them aware of the special central government schemes on offer,” Tushar Sharma, resident director, CARD, told The Shillong Times.
The event comprises a development expo, agriculture and rural expo, industrial expo and Northeast development meet.
“Besides, about 40 per cent of the central schemes are not availed by farmers here either because of lack of awareness or absence of an effective implementing agency. We are looking at addressing these problems via knowledge dissemination through over 50 stalls that will be set up by various government and private organizations,” Sharma said.
Two departments from Meghalaya are taking part in the event.
“There will be a lot on offer in the event for the stakeholders from Meghalaya which has a lot of untapped potential in agriculture, horticulture and food processing. In fact, the response from farmers and entrepreneurs from Meghalaya in the previous three editions have been very positive,” he said.
Besides, the meet will also explore opportunities of the kind of items in the Northeast that are in demand across the country and abroad and also the technology that can be put in place here.
“For instance, a jackfruit processing plant has been set up in south India. Here in the Northeast there is immense potential for bamboo,” the official said.
Two MoUs, including one with NERAMAC, have been signed already ahead of the meet. “One has been on the high demand stevia (natural sweetener) plant that grows abundantly in the Northeast. There are a few more to be signed as well,” Sharma said.
Fifteen progressive farmers of the 80 nominated from the agriculture departments of the Northeast states will be awarded on May 4 for outstanding work in their fields.
“The meet will also explore partnerships for training and competence building, investments, marketing, processing, projects and infrastructure development to accelerate growth and economic activities,” he added.