SHILLONG, July 25: Thirteen memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed on Friday with leading technical and research institutions as part of the Summit for Rural Empowerment held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong.
According to the state government, these MoUs are aimed at strengthening grassroots rural enterprises under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM). An additional six agreements are in the pipeline and expected to be finalised in the coming months.
The partnerships are intended to play a crucial role in technology transfer, hands-on training, product development and market integration. Officials said the purpose is to equip rural communities with the tools and support needed to thrive within competitive value chains.
The collaborations are expected to lead to the creation of high-impact, value-added products that blend Meghalaya’s natural wealth with modern techniques.
Some of the innovations under development include converting pineapple waste into bio-fertilisers and biodegradable packaging; processing local flowers like megong and marigold into natural dyes and herbal gulal; and transforming banana and bamboo waste into handmade, eco-friendly paper.
Other initiatives involve extracting essential oils and producing capsules and powders from medicinal plants such as fishwort, moringa, and long pepper, along with the development of nutritious cookies, snacks and flour mixes using millets, sweet potato and tapioca.
Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, addressing the gathering, said these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to empower rural communities through enterprise, innovation and dignity. She emphasised that PMJVM is not just a scheme, but a vision that has begun to materialise through structured grassroots efforts.
She cited the CM Farm Plus initiative and the State Organic Farming Mission as major interventions, with the latter now covering 52,000 hectares and aiming to expand to one lakh hectares by 2028.
Lyngdoh said that 169 Vikas Divyangta Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have been sanctioned across the state, directly benefiting more than 50,000 people. Each VDVK typically brings together around 15 self-help groups, comprising up to 300 members in total, with a minimum 60% of tribal membership.
Each Kendra receives Rs 15 lakh in support for equipment, procurement, packaging, training, and working capital.
The minister added that rural entrepreneurship in Meghalaya is being shaped by integrating traditional knowledge, forest-based resources, and biodiversity with modern infrastructure like processing units and storage. Branding initiatives such as Meghalaya Collectives have opened up markets at both the national and international levels.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, speaking on the occasion, described the day as a reflection of the impact made on farmers, women’s groups and rural communities. He said that nearly 55,000 SHGs, comprising over five lakh women, have been formed in the past seven years, while two lakh farmers and 20,000 producer groups are currently being supported by the state.
He underlined the government’s commitment to building an institutional ecosystem that enables rural enterprises to grow and thrive.
Referring to challenges in seed availability, quality and timing, the Chief Minister highlighted the CM Farm Plus scheme, which ensures timely access to quality seeds across Meghalaya. He also pointed to CM Assure, a market intervention programme which has already seen the government spend ₹50 crore in eight months to support farmers affected by falling prices for crops like broomstick and arecanut.
Vijay Kumar D. of the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency stated that the MoUs signed during the event would help the VDVKs transition into functional business entities by engaging directly with national institutions. These partnerships are expected to assist both individual and collective enterprises in producing market-ready goods that reflect the state’s unique resources.
He noted that the summit marks a continuation of efforts since 2018, when the state began promoting entrepreneurship under the PRIME programme. He added that the PMJVM represents a convergence of various programmes — MSRLS, FOCUS, cooperatives and producer groups — centred around community ownership.
Kumar also recalled the article by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, written after she visited Meghalaya, which described the state as a model for a confident and self-reliant India.
The summit concluded with a call to action for communities, technical institutions and government agencies to continue building on the momentum generated, with the collective goal of creating a green, self-reliant and empowered Meghalaya.
