SHILLONG, MAY 2: Shillong hosted a significant event marking the orientation for Phase IV of the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-East Region (MOVCDNER), bringing together key stakeholders, government officials, and industry leaders to outline the roadmap for organic farming development in the Northeast. The program, which took place from May 2 to May 3, was held at MAMETI, Shillong.

The orientation aims to guide stakeholders through new guidelines and the implementation strategy for Phase IV, while also facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

Key attendees included Dr. Yogita Rana, IAS, Joint Secretary (INM), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Shri Mrituanjay Kumar Mishra, Director of Organic, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India; and Smti. Isawanda Laloo, IAS, Secretary of the Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Department.

During her address, Dr. Yogita Rana highlighted the importance of scientific farming methods to boost farmers’ income. She urged participants to actively engage and contribute to refining the guidelines, allowing for more significant benefits to farmers in the Northeast.

Smt. Isawanda Laloo, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, offered insights into the local agricultural landscape and outlined opportunities for growth and development. The Project Management Unit of the Ministry also played a crucial role in guiding discussions and ensuring that the orientation yielded actionable outcomes.

MOVCDNER is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, aimed at promoting organic farming and developing farmer institutions across the eight Northeastern states. Since its inception in 2015-16, it has covered 1.79 lakh hectares and reached 1.83 lakh farmers, federated into 379 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Phase IV focuses on enhancing the performance of FPOs from previous phases and engaging Service Providers and Local Resource Persons to improve implementation plans. It also aims to sensitize State Lead Agencies and Service Providers to key aspects like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and scheme convergence, as well as fostering the sharing of experiences among stakeholders.

During the program, representatives from FPOs in Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and Sikkim showcased their achievements and shared their experiences from Phases 1, 2, and 3. This provided a valuable opportunity for all stakeholders to understand the ground-level impact of MOVCDNER.

Overall, the event set the stage for a successful Phase IV, with a strong focus on enhancing organic farming practices, improving the performance of farmer organizations, and creating a sustainable value chain for agricultural products in the Northeast.

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