TURA: To impart technical skills to the farmers and promote food processing industry in the region, a daylong Food Tech Conclave and Outreach Program on Agriculture Export from North East was held here at the Conference Hall of SMELC in Dakopgre, on Tuesday.
The programme was organized by Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of Meghalaya in collaboration with Indian Chamber of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and APEDA.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh stated that North East Region and Garo Hills in particular has abundant raw materials including various agricultural products but due to absence of manufacturing units in the region, it has become a supplier of raw materials to other states including the neighbouring country Bangladesh and imports finished products. Lamenting on the absence of necessary infrastructure required for manufacturing units, he said that interested persons can establish good food processing units in the region with the help of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship and by availing PMEGP loans provided by the government instead of setting up the same kind of business enterprise such as brick kilns, grocery shop, etc.
Further, stating that with rapid expansion of road connectivity even in rural areas and if the trade route opens with Bhutan, Bangladesh, etc, he said that Garo Hills would become a dumping ground of finished products in future and therefore, people should establish manufacturing units in the region and promote economy through entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ramakrishna Chiturii said that Garo Hills has lot of potential and located near the market but needs logistics to export the products from the region. Sharing his personal experience, he said that the pineapple found in Garo Hills is tastiest but since there is no proper packaging facility it could not be sent to other places. Therefore, he urged the farmers to learn technical skills, avail the training and other incentives provided by the government in order to improve their farming activity.
In his speech, the Regional Director, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Ishantor Sobhapandit highlighted the potential of Garo Hills region with regard to agricultural products and geographical advantages being located close to South East Asian Countries, but needs intervention to reach the market with good packaging facilities. Further, he informed that the recent agreement between India and Bangladesh to open Chittagong port would help the farmers to export their products and urged the farmers to adopt packaging facilities in order to market their finished products.
The District Agriculture Officer, West Garo Hills Max Arengh informed that the New Directorate of Food Processing which has been established in the State recently is expected to facilitate the entrepreneurs in these sectors in the region. Stating that there is paradigm shift from food production to processing, he said there are huge untapped resources which can be processed and exported to other places. Further, he mentioned that there are about 4 to 5 lakhs of jackfruit trees left neglected which could have fetched a good income if processed in a right manner.
In the technical session that followed Dr. Bidhan Das, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Packaging, Dr. R Prasantha Kumar, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Mr. Sasikumar R, Assistant Professor, Food Technology, NEHU and Madras Dkhar, District Development Manager, NABARD delivered on topic related to Opportunities and Technology Upgradation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Archana Nath, Consultant, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, APEDA, N F R Marak, Functional Manager, District Commerce and Industries Centre, West Garo Hills, Dr. Heliko K Marak, District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer, West Garo Hills, M Dkhar, District Development Manager, NABARD, Dr. Sagarika Borah, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Garo Hills spoke on the Outreach Program on Agriculture Export from North East.