Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], July 29 (HBTV): Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated the centrifuged latex manufacturing unit at Koksi Nengsat under the Songsak C&RD Block in East Garo Hills district, according to a press release from the Meghalaya Chief Minister’s Office.

The project marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to support farmers and promote entrepreneurship. It is the first centrifuged latex manufacturing unit in Meghalaya and the second in the Northeast.

The unit is managed and implemented by Sister Rose, founder of the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MMCS), and funded by the state government through the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, with a total investment of INR 18.8 crore. The initiative is expected to benefit approximately 3,000 rubber plantation farmers across the Garo Hills.

‘This unit is a boon for Garo Hills and the state as a whole, as it will benefit a large number of farmers involved in rubber plantation. Since our government took office in 2018, our priority has been to understand the concerns of our farmers and come up with interventions to support them. We have launched several programs and schemes, such as Focus, Focus+, and CM Farm+, to benefit our farmers,’ the Chief Minister said.

He noted that while the Prime Minister has set a goal to double farmers' income, Meghalaya needs to exceed that target due to its significant dependence on agriculture. ‘To achieve our target of a USD 10 billion economy, we need to improve livelihoods and opportunities for our farmers,’ he added.

Highlighting local entrepreneurship success stories, the Chief Minister said, ‘Initiatives like Nokma ice cream, which produces 1 lakh packets daily, Awang chips processing unit, and mushroom farming in Mendipathar have shown us the way. These units have benefited farmers in Rongara, Tikrikilla, and Mendipathar.’

He further informed that the government is setting up 40 manufacturing and processing units across the state to benefit farming communities.

‘The rubber sheets industry has faced challenges due to middlemen from outside the region. This processing unit will reverse the trend and benefit farmers involved in rubber plantation. We urge all rubber plantation farmers to sell their raw rubber to this unit, which will provide the best competitive price and save them time,’ he said.

Acknowledging the saturation of government jobs, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to create an ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship in the state. ‘We need to encourage youth to take up entrepreneurship. Through CM Elevate, we are supporting business ventures and promoting entrepreneurship in the state,’ he said.

During the event, Sangma also laid the foundation stone for Meghalaya’s first fruit dehydration unit. The project, estimated at INR 23 crore, is expected to be completed by November next year. It will have a processing capacity of 7,400 MT of fruits annually and will benefit over 5,000 farmers through assured procurement, improved price realisation, reduced post-harvest losses, and the generation of employment opportunities.

The event was attended by PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, MLA Marthone Sangma, and Sister Rose, Secretary of MMCS.

(ANI)