Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 307/21

CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR THE OFFICIALS OF FORESTS AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

The Meghalaya Biodiversity Board today organized a one day Capacity Building Workshop for the Officials of Forests and Environment Department Government of Meghalaya on the topic “Implementation of the provisions of Biological Diversity Act, 2002 with special emphasis on Enforcement Matters and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in the state of Meghalaya”, at the Conference Hall, Sylvan House, Shillong.

The Valedictory Session was graced by Meghalaya Forest & Environment Minister, Shri James P K Sangma as the Chief Guest. Speaking on the occasion, Shri James P K Sangma lauded the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board for coming up with this initiative which will enhance the performances of the officials of the state. Stating that it is important to take lessons from the recent alarming situation that the Covid-19 pandemic created, it also served its purpose for mother-nature in which many mundane things were undone for the better and it gives the time to introspect about the relationship human beings have had with the environment all this while. It reminds us of the profound consequences on our own well-being and survival that can result from continued biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems, he added.

Shri Sangma stated that Meghalaya, which is a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, harbours a rich and diversified flora and fauna. The region is in the middle of significant changes which are causing extreme temperature changes and erratic rainfall patterns over the last few years which affect agriculture, livelihoods and the health of the people, he added.

Shri Sangma stressed on the need to raise awareness on reforestation strategies and improving forest management in order to meet the objectives with regard to halting biodiversity loss and protecting the ecosystems. He also urged upon the stakeholders to start looking at biological diversity not only as a tangible resource for economic benefits but also to conserve and protect biological resources and the services it gives in intangible terms that sustain our lives.

On the occasion, the chief guest also released the Meghalaya Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (MBSAP) 2017-2030, books “Flowering Plants of Meghalaya: A pictorial Guide, Part-1” and “Bamboos of Meghalaya”. The minister distributed the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) fund to Singwilgre BMC, Selsella Block, West Garo Hills District.

Press Release No. 310/21

CHIEF MINISTER VISITS NONGKHNUM ISLAND AND INTERACTS WITH PRODUCER GROUPS UNDER FOCUS IN NONGSTOIN

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday announced Rs. 13 cr special package for development of tourism infrastructure and amenities at Nongkhnum Island in West Khasi Hills. Nongkhnum is known as the second largest river Island in Asia after Majuli in Assam. He visited the Island with his family accompanied by District Administration officials.

He was in Nongstoin to interact with Producer Groups (PGs) , formed under Farmers’ Collectivization for Upscaling of Production and Marketing Systems (FOCUS) – a flagship initiative of the State Government. Interacting with the farmers, the Chief Minister said that the Government has earmarked Rs. 200 cr for farmers welfare programme in the State. He said that the Government is keen to understand the issues and concerns of the farmers and come up with appropriate policies to ensure maximum benefit reaches the farmers. “FOCUS is an innovative welfare programme, whereby the Government ensures that the farmers are able to enhance their productivity as well as avail benefit of credit linkages and strengthen access to markets,” he added.

He also took the opportunity to inform the gathering that the Government has accorded thrust to ensure that road connectivity in the district is improved. He also told that the Greater Nongstoin Water Supply Scheme is nearing completion and will be inaugurated soon. Through this ambitious programme, the Meghalaya Basin Management Authority (MBMA), the nodal implementing agency identifies production clusters of marketable produce, focuses on Value Chain Analysis of the produce, forming bottom-up small collectives known as Producer Groups (PGs), identifying and training extension service providers known as Service Producers (SPs) and building large collectives in the form of Cooperative Societies and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) through bringing together well functioning PGs.

Funding support is given to all the PGs and the selected Service Providers to take up identified value chain related activities.Each of the PGs receive a sum that would be equal to Number of Members at Rs. 5,000 each. This would come to an amount of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 for each of the PGs depending upon the number of members in the PG.

In the West Khasi Hills District, the formation of Producer Groups started from March 2021 in Mawshynrut Block and subsequently from July 2021 onwards in Nongstoin Block and altogether around 183 groups have been formed. The products identified for value chain development are Ginger, Seasonal Vegetables, Broom grass, Sericulture & Arecanut. The empanelled NGOs for Nongstoin Block is NSSS and for Mawshynrut is DAWN.

Chief Minister along with local MLA Macmillan Byrsat handed over cheques to PGs. A total of 36 Producer Groups were given support under the FOCUS Program amounting Rs 21,95,000/- (Twenty One Lakhs and Ninety Five Thousand) only.

During his day long visit to the district, the Chief Minister also inspected the Nongstoin - Wahkaji and Nongstoin - Nongkhnum road.