SHILLONG, July 17: A delegation of farmers and entrepreneurs from Meghalaya, accompanied by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, visited Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
The farmers and entrepreneurs of the state participated in the second Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, 2024, held at Dilli Haat recently.
The delegation also included the Secretary of the Planning Department, CVD Diengdoh, Joint Secretary of Power Department, I Majaw, Deputy Secretary Alexander Mukhim, Joint Secretary Anita Kharpor, and Joint Mission Director of State Rural Employment Society, I Diengdoh.
Speaking about the visit, the chief minister said the Meghalaya government always works together with the farmers, who form the backbone of the state’s economy.
“This experience, after the success of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival not only recognises their hard work but also motivates them,” he said.
Sangma said the presence of the Meghalaya farmers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a matter of pride, symbolising national integration.
The delegation visited the ‘Janjatiya Darpan’, a tribal art and culture gallery in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The visitors were delighted to see beadwork and necklaces from the Khasi and Garo Hills showcased at the presidential house. There was a full collection of these items alongside other ethnographic objects and images from different tribes of India.
“The Meghalaya Pineapple Festival opened new avenues for us, and visiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a dream come true. The CM has always supported the farmers. Due to the government’s efforts, our pineapples are today exported and consumed globally,” farmer Badashisha Lapang said.
“This experience has boosted our morale. With the chief minister accompanying us to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, it showed that all our hard work was valued and acknowledged at the highest level,” another farmer said.
Diengdoh asserted the state’s commitment to agricultural growth. He said the tour was a gesture of the government’s commitment to encouraging the farmers to explore more opportunities for growth and expansion.
Robina J Sangma, an entrepreneur from the Promotion and Incubation of Market-Driven Enterprises (PRIME), Meghalaya said the visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan reaffirmed the active support from the state government to the farmers. “It encourages us to bring innovations and expand our businesses,” she said.
