Shillong: Farmers in Meghalaya are breaking free from brokers. The North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) is rolling out a massive plan to stop seasonal distress sales. They are setting up a 1,000-acre marketing hub in Sohra to push local goods into high-end markets. The project covers 5,000 farmers and 55 distinct farmland clusters across the state.
Technology is doing the heavy lifting. NECTAR is flying drones over farmland to build high-resolution maps and track crop health. These tools provide GPS-based boundaries and scientific planning. Roughly 100 lead farmers will get specialized training at demonstration farms. They must also finish third-party organic certification to sell their goods internationally.
Marketing remains the primary hurdle for local growers. NECTAR plans to bridge the gap between rural producers and organized buyers to cut out middlemen. The Sohra hub will serve as the central site for gathering and selling certified organic crops. Dr. Arun Kumar Sarma, Director General of NECTAR, highlighted the goal of the initiative. “Our objective is not only to promote organic farming but to build a complete ecosystem where technology, certification and assured market access work together to improve farmers’ incomes.”
This push comes under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It seeks to swap old, low-profit habits for modern standards. Success could shift the state away from cheap distress sales. Thousands of farmers now have a path toward a better share of the organic economy.
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