The Meghalaya government has asked the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (Neramac) to chalk out a detailed plan to support the horti produce growers of the state.

This was said by chief minister Mukul Sangma at a Meghalaya Food Processing Investors Meet at Shillong recently.

He said Neramac should support the growers of the state on the dehydration processes developed by Tech-Know Consultant, Mumbai, a consultancy firm. “To start with, a few fruits and vegetables that are abundantly grown in the state, like pineapple, strawberry, gooseberry and ginger, may be considered,” he said.

The event received overwhelming response from regional entrepreneurs and investors, and saw participation by food processing industries of repute like Dabur Foods, Sahibabad, J.M. Bakers and Confectioneries, Coimbatore, Tech-Know Consultants, Mumbai, Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association, Tetra Pak Ltd, Poultry Federation of India.

The government has also asked Neramac to take up a three-month programme on baking and confectioneries in Shillong and Tura for Class X or XII school dropouts of the state, with JM Bakeries, Coimbatore, as a knowledge partner, so that these youngsters can learn a better way to make a living.

Sangma said there was need to customise the sche-mes and plans of the Centre for Meghalaya, as these were designed keeping in mind the whole country, whereas needs differed from region to region.

Neramac managing director S. Bhattacharjee said the event was aimed at bridging the gap between the investors and the entrepreneurs and had certainly created a platform to give the right impetus to the food processing industry in Meghalaya.

Bhattacharjee had also given a presentation on the horticulture scenario of the Northeast during the just-concluded South Asian Horti-Congress in New Delhi.

He highlighted the organic farming scenario of the Northeast and spoke on the business opportunities for existing farmers.

He also dwelt on ways and means to attract the new generation of agri-entrepreneurs for sustainable growth in the horticulture sector.

The Centre has already expressed concern on the slow growth of the food processing sector in the Northeast, as not enough applications are coming in despite publicising the schemes through various media all over the region.