SHILLONG, Jan 16: The PRIME Hub in Diengkynthong village in East Khasi Hills will be an economic zone for both farmers and producers, said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma as he inaugurated the same on Monday.
According to a statement, the PRIME Hub in Diengkynthong village is one of the 18 across Meghalaya, which are being established by the IFAD-supported Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP) of the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), in partnership with State Council of Science, Technology & Environment (SCSTE).
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural programme, Conrad said that PRIME Hubs are avenues that can help the small and marginal farmers of Meghalaya explore opportunities for their growth through trainings, banking assistance, market linkages, skill development, project report preparation and guidance.
He also informed that with people in rural Meghalaya facing challenges in terms of improving their livelihood activities due to lack of knowledge and guidance, the government is, in a bid to bridge the gap, setting up PRIME Hubs across the state.
“Through these hubs people will have access to different business opportunities,” the chief minister added.
With regard to the PRIME Hub in Diengkynthong village, Conrad said that farmers’ market, Collective Marketing Centre, is being constructed in its vicinity, along with a processing unit.
Referring to various government schemes such as FOCUS and YESS, the chief minister said that PRIME Hubs will act as the base where all government programmes will run, thereby upscaling production, processing and employment generation.
Lauding the efforts of the IVCS at Diengkynthong, the chief minister encouraged the people to come forward and take advantage of these facilities and to continue their support to the PRIME Hub.
It may be mentioned that PRIME (Promotion and Incubation of Market-Driven Enterprises) Hubs are state-wide incubation hubs set up primarily to help and handhold small and marginal farmers, producer groups, and agri-entrepreneurs realise improved incomes through high-leverage market access and credit linkages, technical know-how, better quality seeds, value addition activities such as processing and packaging and support funding.
Others who were present at the inaugural programme include officials and representatives of various line departments, MBMA officials, community members, farmer groups, et al.
