Meghalaya CM Sangma inaugurates Meghalaya’s first Centrifuged Latex unit in East Garo Hills

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: In a significant move to boost rural entrepreneurship and agricultural development, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inaugurated the state’s first-ever Centrifuged Latex Manufacturing Unit at Koksi Nengsat under the Songsak C&RD Block. The Rs 18.8 crore facility, funded by the State Government through the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), is only the second of its kind in the entire Northeast.

The unit, a flagship project led by Sr Rose, founder of the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MMCS), is expected to directly benefit nearly 3,000 rubber farmers across the Garo Hills region by offering competitive prices and cutting out exploitative middlemen.

“This unit is a boon for Garo Hills and the state as a whole,” said CM Conrad K Sangma, emphasizing his government’s commitment since 2018 to uplifting the agricultural sector. He highlighted flagship programs like Focus, Focus+, and CM Farm+ aimed at supporting farmer incomes and improving rural livelihoods. Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal to double farmers’ income, Sangma stated, “In Meghalaya, we need to more than double it due to our heavy dependence on farming.” He linked this goal to the state’s larger ambition of becoming a $10 billion economy by fostering rural innovation and entrepreneurship. Citing successful grassroots ventures such as Nokma ice cream, the Awang chips unit, and mushroom farming initiatives, the Chief Minister revealed plans to set up 40 similar processing units across the state.

Addressing concerns over market exploitation, Sangma assured rubber farmers that the new unit would offer the most competitive prices, thereby minimizing reliance on outside middlemen. “This is the beginning of a market transformation that puts power back into the hands of our farmers,” he said.

He also called for a shift in mindset among the youth, encouraging them to pursue entrepreneurship over government jobs. “Through CM Elevate, we are nurturing a new generation of business leaders who will transform Meghalaya’s economic landscape.”

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