By H.H. Mohrmen
Meghalaya is an agricultural state, and it is often said that seventy percent of the population depends on agriculture for sustenance. The truth is that, even today, agriculture remains the primary livelihood activity for the majority of the population in the state. But what kind of agriculture are the farmers engaged in? Agriculture, even in a small state like Meghalaya, is a complex system, as it varies from one place to another depending on altitude, climate, and the prevailing culture of the area.
This diversity has also compelled the government to change its earlier approach of placing all agriculture-related activities under the Agriculture Department. Considering the diverse agro-climatic conditions and the rich varieties of crops available in the state, the need was later felt to establish a separate Horticulture Department. Yet commercial farming remains a challenge. Even in places where commercial farming is practiced, it is undertaken by only a few farmers and on a very small scale.
MSRLS and Different Agencies Engaging in Agriculture
One of the challenges in Meghalaya is that there are numerous government agencies engaged in promoting agriculture in the state. At their own levels and through their respective initiatives, these agencies have implemented projects to promote livelihoods and enhance the incomes of rural communities. However, because the majority of the population is farmers, many of these initiatives naturally revolve around farming-related activities.
The Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), which implements the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) through the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement, is promoting natural farming.
It implements Government of India’s Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP), a sub-component of the National Rural Livelihood Mission. The programme aims to empower women engaged in agriculture through targeted investments that improve their participation, productivity, and long-term livelihood opportunities. It focuses on strengthening agriculture-based livelihoods for rural women while promoting sustainable farming practices rooted in local resources.
The initiative seeks to create efficient and locally driven agricultural systems in which women farmers have greater control over production resources and are actively involved in managing support structures. Through this approach, women are expected to gain better access to agricultural inputs, government services, and institutional support. As their productive capacities improve, the programme also contributes to better food security for families and communities. It also aims to expand the area under cultivation, increase cropping intensity, and improve food production led by women.
Another important objective is to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and performance of women engaged in agriculture. The programme encourages greater access to productive land, quality inputs, credit, technology, and information. It also promotes the use of gender-friendly tools and technologies to reduce the physical burden of agricultural work on women.
MKSP further seeks to improve women’s access to markets and market information so they can secure better opportunities for selling their products. It also emphasizes improving soil health and fertility to support sustainable agriculture-based livelihoods.
In addition, the initiative aims to strengthen the visibility and collective identity of women farmers by promoting women-led institutions and encouraging entrepreneurship among rural women. The programme encourages continuous learning so that women farmers can adopt suitable technologies and improved farming systems.
In Meghalaya, to implement this component of NRLM, MSRLS, the state agency, has engaged an agency from South India to promote natural farming under the project. As a result, most SHGs in the state are now aware of natural farming practices.
MDMA Promoting Agro-Ecology Farming System
A few years ago, the Government of Meghalaya, in collaboration with NESFAS, experimented with agro-ecology practices, another nature-based farming approach, by promoting Agro-Ecology Learning Circles (ALCs). This project achieved the distinction of receiving the 2025 Global Innovation Award in Rome. ALCs are groups of farmers who engage in innovative experiments to solve challenges encountered in their farming practices.
The project, which aimed to provide scientific validation for the experiments these farmers had been undertaking, was supported by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA). Implemented across different districts of Meghalaya, ALCs also sought to study indigenous farming systems and scientifically validate practices that farmers have been following for generations.
Agro-ecology is a nature-based farming system that strengthens indigenous farming practices, which are by default organic and nature-based. It is not a top-down project; rather, it views farmers as partners in improving and developing farming practices while enhancing their incomes. At the heart of agro-ecology is the principle that farming practices should not harm the ecology of the area. In fact, it seeks ways in which agriculture and ecology can complement rather than compete with each other.
In the context of Meghalaya, the programme works closely with farmers and examines the indigenous knowledge they have long applied in their farming practices.
Sustainable Livelihood Mission
MBMA, apart from promoting innovative projects and schemes like IVCS and FOCUS, which are intended to support farmers and rural livelihoods, is also promoting the Sustainable Livelihood Mission project with the support of KfW Development Bank. The goal is to promote organic farming, and currently the project is undertaking geo-fencing of farmlands.
MEGNOLIA: Meghalaya’s Grand Organic Mission
One of the government’s major flagship initiatives is MEGNOLIA, a project to be implemented by the Horticulture Department. The programme envisions transforming Meghalaya into a leading state in natural and organic farming by helping farmers secure sustainable livelihoods while strengthening the green economy through climate-resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
MEGNOLIA seeks to support farmers through training, certification assistance, and improved market access, thereby enabling a smoother transition to organic farming. At the same time, the mission aims to increase farmers’ incomes and further establish Meghalaya’s identity as an organic state.
The state recognized its rich agro-climatic diversity and the vast opportunities for horticultural development, the need for a dedicated focus became evident. Over time, horticulture evolved into a specialized wing under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare to ensure the comprehensive growth of the sector and provide better support to farmers across the state.
Blessed with fertile soil, varied altitudes, and a favorable climate, Meghalaya is naturally suited for cultivating a wide range of horticultural crops, including fruits, vegetables, spices, plantation crops, flowers, medicinal plants, and aromatic crops. Now, horticulture has become an important source of livelihood, employment, and sustainable land use, particularly in rural communities.
The Horticulture Wing plays an important role in encouraging scientific farming methods, improving post-harvest management, and linking farmers with markets. Through both centrally sponsored and state-funded schemes, the department is working to modernize traditional horticulture practices and transform the sector into a more commercial and value-oriented enterprise.
The mission’s key objectives include increasing production and productivity by expanding cultivation areas, promoting high-yielding crop varieties, and introducing improved farming techniques suited to Meghalaya’s agro-climatic conditions. It also focus is post-harvest management and value addition through the development of cold storage facilities, grading and packaging units, and processing infrastructure to reduce losses and improve the market value of horticultural produce.
The mission also aims to promote floriculture as well as the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants as emerging sectors that can diversify farming activities and create additional sources of income. Strengthening market linkages and infrastructure development is another major priority. The programme seeks to connect farmers with buyers, encourage horticultural cooperatives, and develop market facilities that can ensure fair prices and wider market access.
The government has already organize farmers into PGs FIGs and planned to later federate them into Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). This approach is intended to help farmers take collective ownership of their organic enterprises and actively participate in sustainable commercial farming. The mission hopes to create opportunities for Meghalaya’s organic products to access both domestic and international markets while promoting long-term trade relationships.
Where Does the Twain Meet?
The goal of all these initiatives is to help farmers, empower women, and improve the state’s economy. However, the question remains: where is the meeting point? It is obvious that the government’s emphasis is on promoting nature-based agriculture, but are these projects going to operate in silos? Does the government have a policy to ensure convergence among these different farming approaches being introduced in the state? Is there a roadmap for coordination among these government agencies? Will there be opportunities for different departments and agencies to share notes and learn from one another? In the case of natural farming, there is even a need for interdepartmental convergence between the Agriculture and Veterinary Departments.
The new government approach regarding the promotion of agriculture in the state will also contribute toward achieving at least 10 of the 17 SDGs which include: ending poverty, ending hunger, good health, gender equality, economic growth, innovation, reducing inequality, responsible consumption, climate action and life on land. The larger question is whether these initiatives can come together under a common vision so that the efforts of different agencies complement each other rather than function in isolation.
