Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Imphal: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered the Agriculture Department to hold a major stakeholder workshop between August and September. The initiative aims to secure Geographical Indication (GI) tags for the state’s indigenous crops, a move intended to protect regional identity and provide farmers with exclusive market rights.
During a review meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, Sarma highlighted the need for comprehensive organic certification to improve the global competitiveness of local produce. He stated, "GI tags, he emphasized, safeguard regional identity and grant farmers exclusive market rights." The state currently holds GI recognition for products including Kaji Nemu, Joha Rice, and Tezpur Litchi.
The Chief Minister also focused on increasing farmer income by connecting producers directly with aggregators and export markets. He pledged that the government will continue to support exporters and boost investment in agricultural infrastructure through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. Beyond agricultural projects, Sarma discussed reclaiming over 200 square kilometers of encroached land and urged officials to pursue Central Government Viability Gap Funding for projects in education, health, and power.
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