From Our Correspondent
Nongpoh, Oct 3: Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister on Tuesday said that the government would soon address matters concerning differently-abled individuals, including their reservation in government jobs, to provide them with opportunities.
Lyngdoh was speaking during the event on ‘Women Bio-Entrepreneurship Programme-Orchid Floriculture’ conducted at the Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre, Nongdiengan.
The event was conducted as part of the project ‘Setting up of BioNEST Incubator to encourage women Bio-Entrepreneurship through orchid floriculture in Meghalaya’.
While applauding the efforts of Ferrando Institute for its efforts in enabling communication through sign language for the mute, the minister encouraged educated youths to seize the opportunities presented by such projects, particularly in the flower market, where there is a high demand for cut flowers, especially orchids.
She emphasised the importance of not relying solely on government jobs and highlighted the need for educated youths to take initiative and start their businesses, given the state’s rich biodiversity and lack of knowledge. She also informed the gathering that the approach road to the institute would soon be initiated under the local MLA scheme.
The event was conducted in a bid to achieve commercial production of
‘Dendrobium Orchids’ thereby help women bio-entrepreneurs and farmers from different parts of Ri-Bhoi
It was conducted by the Institute of Bio-Resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) and Bio Resources Development Centre (BRDC).
The project is aimed at capacity building and training for targeted women bio-entrepreneurs and farmers, and also infrastructural development of polyhouses, procurement of planting material, hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art horticultural practices, development of Bio-Entrepreneurial skills, packaging, marketing, industry linkages, creation of employment opportunities, and the establishment of Ri Bhoi as a district known for orchid cut flower production within the state.
The project is funded by the BIRAC BioNEST Scheme under the Department of Biotechnology.
A total of 11 Self Help Groups in the district have benefited from the initiative, with Ferrando Speech and Hearing Centre serving as the central hub.
Earlier in the day, the minister inaugurated the Central Hub within the Ferrando Institute compound.