Jammu, July 16, 2024: The second edition of Meghalaya Pineapple Fest 2024, organized by the Government of Meghalaya, held at the iconic Dilli Haat, concluded on Sunday. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma visited the Meghalaya Farmers’ Market and engaged with farmers and entrepreneurs, exploring the exhibits of the festival.Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K Sangma underscored the government’s investment of Rs. 5.63 crore in infrastructure and Rs. 1.39 crore in working capital, with Rs. 78 lakhs allocated specifically for pineapples until 2023. These efforts have resulted in tremendous achievements, including the export of 4.36 MT of pineapples to Lulu Group Abu Dhabi.Close to 300 MT are also exported to EU countries after being freeze-dried at the PRIME Hub in Ri Bhoi District. Additionally, these initiatives have increased farmers’ income by 30-122 percent, directly impacting 300 plus farmers and indirectly benefiting more than 5000.The Chief Minister shed light on significant developments in the pineapple industry and informed that 11 Collective Marketing Centres (CMC) were set upfor trading fresh pineapples. He also informed that 338 Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) and 28 Organic Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been established to subvert the influence of middlemen and price fluctuations in the fresh fruits segment of the market. With upcoming initiatives like the launch of Agri Response Vehicles, Warehouses, and Farmer’s markets, these co-operatives act as formidable trading partners for institutional buyers and as a capable exporter handling logistic issues.He also affirmed the support by the State government to farmer’s collectives withinterest-free working capital loans totaling Rs. 78.82 Lakhs have been provided in 2023-24 to aggregate a target volume of 540MT, eliminating the exploitative practice and, gap funding forlogistics while marketing the produce beyond state borders with Rs. 8.12 Lakhs disbursed for trial marketing of pineapple supporting a trading volume of 22.3 MT in 2023.
