Shillong: A two-day National Buyer-Seller Meet-cum-Exhibition finished in Shillong on Saturday. The College of Community Science, CAU, Tura, ran the event to link regional farmers with bigger markets. They want to transform agriculture across the Northeast.
Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR, served as the Chief Guest. He pointed to major hurdles for those in the industry. Climate change, transboundary zoonotic diseases, and poor connectivity remain the biggest threats. He praised the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, for pushing innovation in the sector.
Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma handed out prizes to the winners. She noted that local artisans deserve more attention for their work. "Urging them to seek international recognition, she stressed the need for better quality control, branding and marketability." Sangma also pushed consumers to buy local goods to keep traditions alive.
ICAR Director Dr. Kadirvel Govindswamy highlighted the need for strong markets for niche crops like black turmeric. He wants more industry support and legal backing for these ventures. BSF DIG Lalit Mohan Sharma and Director of the Department of Food Processing Ian Borney Saiborne also spoke. They agreed that connecting producers directly to buyers is the best path forward.
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