By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 4: In a milestone that reflects Meghalaya’s vision for agrarian transformation and rural prosperity, Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, on Thursday, inaugurated the state’s first aseptic pulp processing unit at Jirang Organic Agro Farmer’s Producer Company Ltd (FPC) in Nonglum, New-Jirang, Ri-Bhoi district.
This aseptic pulp unit is established under the innovative Community Public Private Partnership (CPPP) model, where the community provides land and labour, the government contributes capital investment and private partners bring working capital, technology, and market access.
This initiative is supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Farmers’ Collectivization for Upscaling Production and Marketing System (FOCUS) scheme. The state government’s other programmes like Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (MLAMP), and CM FARM+ also helped build this FPC into a successful journey.
These schemes are efforts of the government to reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality, and enabling year-round supply chains, which also look to stimulate rural entrepreneurship and job creation for a holistic and sustainable development.
Others who were present include Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, Saloni Verma, Deputy Secretary, Additional CEO, MEGNOLIA, ED MBMA; Abhilash Baranwal, Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi; and Ibalahun Thangkhiew, CEO of Jirang Organic Agro FPC.