Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday said the ‘Jackfruit Mission’ will be a game-changer as the demands for jackfruit products in the international market are very high.

With jackfruit grown abundantly in Meghalaya, the ‘Jackfruit Mission’, which was launched in 2018 is being implemented by the directorate of food processing through several interventions to promote value-added products.

Interacting with entrepreneurs at the ‘Nano Jackfruit Entrepreneurs’ event in the College of Community Science, Tura, West Garo Hills district on Monday, the Chief Minister said the Government is supporting the farmers engaged in jackfruit plantation and is providing training and other support to leverage their activities by connecting them with market linkage.
The Chief Minister assured that the State Goverment will provide help to the nano entrepreneurs to take the mission forward.
Sangma also informed about the Chief Minister’s Support for Producers Group, wherein Rs. 5000 each is provided to individuals who collectively come together to form a group.

“Under the programme, each individual entrepreneur or farmer with similar interest can come together and avail the support to further their entrepreneurial activities or use it as a startup fund to begin their venture,” he said and informed that Rs 5 crore has already been sanctioned to take this project forward.
The Chief Minister informed that the Government was playing a pro-active role to create market linkages with the neighboring Bangladesh, Arab countries, to create value chain and job opportunities.

Sangma also interacted with entrepreneurs, who have been working in the food processing sector with very small set-ups in different parts of Garo Hills and said that the Government is upbeat to upscale and connect the farmers and entrepreneurs to the market and also provide support through different entrepreneurship promotion programs.

During the interactive session, the Chief Minister awarded certificates to the 13 shortlisted entrepreneurs and also handed over to those who have received vocational training at the college, household items, purchased with the one-day salary of the teaching faculty and staff, donated to help the pandemic-hit people.

(Agencies)