Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 67/22

STATE LEVEL HORTI EXHIBITION CUM HONEY FESTIVAL HELD AT TURA ON 12.03.2022

The State Level Horti Exhibition cum Honey Festival with the Theme “Horticulture for Sustainability and Food Security” was held at SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura on 12th March, 2022 where Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Ram Singh graced the occasion as Chief Guest.

Speaking during the function, the Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh said that this kind of platform is essential for the farmers to showcase their products as well as to provide an opportunity for them to acquire knowledge about technical methods including promotion of marketing skills for successful sale of their products. Stating that horticulture has plethora of activities he suggested for the adoption of integrated farming with agriculture and allied sectors including animal husbandry for enhanced production and sustainability keeping in mind to preserve the environment as well.

On the large scale commercial plantation of arecanut by destroying the natural environment in the area, he said that these plantations are not sustainable even though they provide good returns in the beginning and, as time goes by with the increase in plantation there will be decrease of forest cover especially around water sources which may cause water scarcity in the area in future.

Mentioning that the state is the net importer of almost all commodities, he said that there is plenty of land available in the region and people can grow their own food and increase the production by adopting integrated farming, etc. Informing that Garo Hills has high cases of anaemic patients and that it is ranking second after Jharkand for malnourish children, he urged the concerned officers to ensure that people eat healthy and nutritious food while they also grow and sell their farm products. He also urged them to promote integrated farming or mixed cropping among the farmers since it can also generate employment opportunities for others along with increased farm products and look forward to make the villages self reliant by exploring various possibilities of entrepreneurship.

While delivering the keynote address, the District Agriculture Officer and Incharge District Horticulture Officer, Purnima K Sangma highlighted the importance of horticulture that deals with fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, etc which not only provide food and raw materials to food processing industries but also generate employment opportunities to people at large. Moreover, she also mentioned the importance of honey and its by-products which not only provides health benefits, but also helps to increase the agricultural productivity and income of the people of the region.

Joint Director of Agriculture, Alinaro Ch Momin, District Horticulture Officer, Williamnagar, Jitendra Prasad Barma were among others who spoke on the occasion while Additional Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Mary T Sangma, Deputy Director Cum Managing Director MgSFAC, Meghalaya Shillong, P Mukhim, Official from NABARD, Tura M Dkhar, District Agriculture and Horticulture officers, Officers from various departments and farmers from across the state attended the function.

Earlier, the Chief Guest Opened the Stalls put up at the venue which displayed various farm and horti products and organic honey participated by farmers from across the State. Further, Mikhail Marak who is a young talented music composer, songwriter, sound designer and mixer also presented a song in dedication to the farmers of the region for providing us the food we eat everyday by their hard labour and his latest single “Hai Chena” during the function.