SHILLONG: The state government in collaboration with various national institutes, product development institutes, academic institutes, export associations, traders based in Shillong and other states of the country and innovators in the agriculture and allied sector organised a two-day webinar in an effort to prepare a roadmap for Meghalaya for 5 years, 10 years and 20 years.
The webinar, entitled Meghalaya’s Agri Vision 2040, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, on July 10 in the presence of the Chief Secretary, M S Rao, a statement issued by MIPR, said.
Attended by various product-specific institutions, academia and practitioners, such as National Institute of Immunology, CGSIR, ICAR, CAU, NEHU (Tura campus), NRC Banana Kochi, Jackfruit Processing Centre, National Institute for Mushroom Solan, Himachal Pradesh, Sadhana Forest, CPRS, CIMAP, CIH, NCCD and local entrepreneurs, logistic managers like Rapsang group and Weilabha Meat Processing, the webinar discussed and deliberated on the way forward for agriculture and allied sector in the state.
The sessions included product-specific issues for rice, maize, Lakadong turmeric, local fruits and vegetables, dairy, poultry and piggery sectors, fishery and new technology in agriculture and horticulture like hydroponics.
The United Nations’ first ten innovators winners and Managing Director of Future Farms, Gopal, while addressing the webinar, offered to establish a centre in Shillong to help promote and support young entrepreneurs to take up hydroponics in the state.
Dr S Uma, Director of NRC, offered assistance in setting up a banana processing centre in Garo Hills.
One of the largest exporters of honey to Europe and USA, S Joseph of Malabar Honey, offered free training to the apiary farmers of the state and the training session has been scheduled on July 16.
In the session conducted by the Director of the National Institute of Immonology, Dr Amalya Panda, he agreed to take up a project for nutraceuticals and medicinal value analysis of products such as Lakadong turmeric and mushrooms grown in the state.
Professor Sahoo of Delhi University spoke on the various entrepreneurial avenues available in nutracueticals in the state and Director of ICAR, Dr Pattanayak, spoke on improving rice innovation with a time-bound plan and stated that certain tools and machineries suitable for hilly states have arrived at ICAR, Umiam, and will be distributed to rice farmers of the state soon.
Speaking on the bamboo sector, experts from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, Professor Solanki and Shivraj of the renowned NGO, Uravu, commented on the various potentialities that this sector possesses in the state.
Speaking during the webinar, Dr Mohanty, Asia’s Regional Head of the International Potato Centre, showed interest in collaborating with the state in research and development in the potato sector, while the IFAD Country head Rasha Omar, highlighted the possible interface for collaborations with the development aspiration of the state.