NONGSTOIN, Nov 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on Monday, said that the Meghalaya government has earmarked Rs 200 crore for farmers’ welfare programme in the state, even as he stressed that the state government is keen on understanding the issues and concerns of the farmers and come up with appropriate policies to ensure that maximum benefit reaches the
farmers.
The chief minister informed this while interacting with farmers from Nongstoin and Mawshynrut C&RD Block under the state government’s flagship programme, Farmers Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing System (FOCUS), at a programme organised by the Basin Development Unit West Khasi Hills here.
The CM along with local MLA Macmillan Byrsat handed over cheques to a total of 36 producer groups as support under the FOCUS programme amounting to Rs 21.95 lakh.
Speaking at the programme, local MLA Macmillan Byrsat called upon farmers to ensure that the fund received should be properly utilised for the well being of the groups in particular and the society at large.
He encouraged farmers to concentrate on agriculture to produce enough food, so as to make Meghalaya self-sufficient in foodgrains.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister informed that FOCUS is Meghalaya’s biggest farmers’ welfare programme, which is the first-of-its-kind with an initiative to provide direct funding to producers groups.
He highlighted that the government is committed towards welfare of farmers and would continue to provide financial assistance under the FOCUS programme.
Each of the producer groups received a sum equal to the number of its members at Rs 5,000 each; this would amount to Rs 50,000-Rs 1,00,000 for each group.
During the concluding part of the programme, an interaction was held wherein the chief minister listened to the grievances of the farmers at the grassroots level.
The chief minister also promised to look into the matter by promising to extend all possible help to solve their problems.