TURA: Stakeholders Validation Workshop with regard to Root & Tuber Crops (RTCs) was held at the College of Home Science, Central Agricultural University, Sangsanggre near Tura. The workshop was organised by Meghalaya Basin Development Unit (MBDA), Basin Development Unit, Tura in collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP) through FoodSTART+ project initiative of livelihood improvement and food security. College of Home Science, CAU Tura was the co-organiser of the workshop.
It may be mentioned that through this workshop, farmers can present their products and innovation under the cassava value added products.
During the workshop, the participants were brief on different topics by various officials from different departments who explained to them how groups can benefit from the programme under District Industries.
It may be mentioned that FoodSTART+ project under IFAD in Meghalaya is currently being implemented in two districts namely East Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills with the International Potato Centre (CIP) through the IFAD funded project, Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Market Project (MeghaLAMP) under a project titled as Food Resilience Through Root and Tuber Crops in Upland and Coastal Communities of the Asia Pacific (FoodSTART+).
Potatoes and cassava or tapioca which are two of the major input product in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills respectively, is being taken for the project apart from other root and tuber crops in the region. The concept of Farmer Business School (FBS) is the community based institution wherein FoodSTART+ has innovatively evolved under the project. In each Farmer Business School, a member of 30 farmers are enrolled in batch wherein a farmer has to undergo various modules of training and exposure which enable the group for product development, value chain management.
