By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 30: In a major boost to the state’s cold chain and rural enterprise ecosystem, Meghalaya’s first dedicated cold storage facility for fish and livestock was inaugurated at Mawblei, Shillong, on Friday.
The facility, which features a combined 45-metric-tonne capacity for chilling and freezing, aims to establish a structured supply chain for local products.
The initiative is spearheaded by the North East Development Initiative (NEDI) under ABK Media India Pvt Ltd, with M/s J. Mawkhiew Enterprises serving as the clearing and forwarding (C&F) partner.
A key highlight of the event was the announcement of a proposed five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NEDI and the state Fisheries department.
The collaboration is intended to strengthen infrastructure and support the long-term growth of the fisheries and livestock sectors.
The facility was formally opened in the presence of David Khanwanlang, Deputy Director of the Fisheries department; Dr. A. Chyne, Director of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department and Jenny Mawkhiew, proprietor of J. Mawkhiew Enterprises.
During the event, NEDI founder member Somjit Dutta stated that the project is more than a business venture.
“The inauguration of this cold storage facility is not merely the beginning of a business collaboration; it is the coming together of the people of Meghalaya to build a shared ecosystem for growth and prosperity. Our vision extends beyond creating a cold storage chain—we are laying the foundation for a comprehensive ecosystem focused on capacity building, entrepreneurship development, youth engagement and community participation,” Dutta said.
“Through this initiative, we aspire to position Meghalaya as a leading fisheries and livestock hub for the country, creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening local value chains and empowering future generations to become active contributors to the state’s economic development,” he added.
It may be mentioned that the event was attended by 12 distributors from across Meghalaya.
The network is expected to expand with nearly 35 sub-distributors to ensure district-level connectivity and last-mile reach.
By providing reliable storage, the facility is expected to minimise post-harvest losses and maintain product quality for local farmers and fishers.
