By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 21: Agriculture Minister Timothy D Shira has called for a focused strategy to narrow the agricultural development gap between the Khasi Hills and the Garo Hills, admitting that farmers in the former are far more advanced in adopting modern and scientific farming methods.
Speaking on the need for region-specific interventions, Shira said that Garo Hills continues to face serious agricultural hurdles, particularly the outbreak of crop diseases — with Areca Nut plantations being the worst affected — and a shortage of skilled agricultural professionals to guide farmers on best practices.
To overcome these challenges, he stressed the importance of bringing in agricultural scientists to conduct field research, devise pest control strategies, and train local farmers. Shira also pointed to several ongoing initiatives under the government’s agricultural push, including the Chief Minister’s Farm+ programme, which aims to promote high-yield and sustainable crop cultivation.
The minister added that efforts are being made to strengthen market linkages for Garo Hills farmers by improving access to Guwahati through new railway connections. He also encouraged greater awareness and utilisation of central government schemes such as the PM-Dhan Dhaanya Kisan Yojana, which are designed to improve farmer income and productivity.
According to Shira, the government’s overarching goal is to bring the farming community of Garo Hills on par with that of Khasi Hills by promoting science-based agriculture, enhancing institutional support, and ensuring that no region is left behind in Meghalaya’s agricultural growth story.
