Meghalaya kicks off second phase of 295 crore organic farming mission

Shillong: Meghalaya launched the second phase of its 295 crore organic mission on June 26. The state handed out 5.8 crore in financial aid to village cooperative societies. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the move at an international farming conference in Shillong. He urged officials to keep people first. "Whatever actions we take, we must keep our farmers, women, youth and other stakeholders in front of us," Sangma said.

The mission runs from 2024 to 2028. It targets 44,000 additional hectares of organic farmland. This shift will help 46,000 small farmers. Phase one already covered nearly 29,000 hectares. The state wants one lakh hectares under organic control within two years. Officials are also pushing value-added products like Lakadong turmeric and Khasi mandarin.

The event drew 400 attendees from across Asia and the Pacific. Organizers included MEGNOLIA, IFOAM Organics Asia, and the German bank KfW. Agriculture Minister Timothy D. Shira labeled women the primary keepers of traditional knowledge. Officials noted that the state's matrilineal roots give women a major edge in land ownership. This gives local farming a boost.