Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 655/18

FARMERS PORTAL LAUNCHED

The Meghalaya Farmers’ Portal (www.megfarmers.gov.in) was officially launched today by the Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Shri. Banteidor Lyngdoh at Yojna Bhavan, Shillong in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri. K N Kumar, Secretary, Agriculture Smti. M N Nampui, Deputy Director General NIC, Shri. Timothy Dkhar and a host of departmental officers, invitee’s and over 200 farmers. The proceedings were also witnessed by famers from Garo Hills via video conferencing. The Farmers' Portal of the Department of Agriculture is a platform for farmers to seek any information related to agriculture. Detailed information on farmers’ insurance, agricultural storage, crops, extension activities, seeds, pesticides, farm machineries, etc. is provided. Details of fertilizers, market prices, package and practices, programmes, welfare schemes are also given. Block level details related to soil fertility, storage, insurance, training, etc. are available.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri. Banteidor Lyngdoh said that the portal will directly connect farmers to the Agriculture Department and hoped that the information provided in the portal will prove to be beneficial to the famers of the state. Reiterating that the Government is continuously working to improve the condition of framers, Shri. Lyngdoh informed that the Department is seriously working towards an Agriculture Policy and also setting a Minimum Support Prices for famers produce so that they are not exploited.

Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Shri. K N Kumar informed that the portal has been set up with the financial support of the Central Government through the National e-Governance Plan and the technical support of the National Informatics Centre, Shillong. With 80 percent of the population directly or indirectly involved in agriculture, Shri Kumar said that there is a need to consciously reach out to famers from all corners of the State and as such the portal will go a long way in that direction. He also added that the portal will soon be available in Khasi and Garo languages as well. Others who spoke include, Secretary, Agriculture Smti. M N Nampui, Deputy Director General NIC, Shri. Timothy Dkhar and Shri A Kharsati, General Secretary of the Hill Farmers Union.