Shillong: In a significant push towards boosting rural livelihoods and agri-based entrepreneurship, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated the state’s first centrifuged latex manufacturing unit at Koksi Nengsat under Songsak C&RD Block in East Garo Hills. This is only the second such facility in the entire Northeast.
The Rs. 18.8 crore project, funded by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, is being implemented by the Mendipathar Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MMCS) under the leadership of Sr Rose.
The unit is expected to directly benefit nearly 3,000 rubber farmers across the Garo Hills region by offering fair prices and eliminating middlemen in the rubber supply chain.
Speaking at the inauguration, Sangma called the unit a “boon” for Garo Hills and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers through various schemes.
“Since 2018, our focus has been to understand farmers’ concerns and deliver targeted interventions through programs like Focus, Focus+, and CM Farm+,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of doubling farmers’ income, Sangma noted that Meghalaya’s heavy reliance on agriculture requires more ambitious growth.
“To achieve our $10 billion economy target, we must significantly improve rural livelihoods,” he stated.
Highlighting successful entrepreneurial models in the state, the chief minister pointed to the Nokma ice cream venture, Awang chips processing unit, and mushroom farming in Mendipathar, which are generating employment and creating market linkages.
He said 40 more such manufacturing and processing units are in the pipeline to benefit farming communities across Meghalaya.
Addressing market issues in the rubber industry, Sangma said the new unit would counter the long-standing problem of exploitation by outside middlemen.
“We urge all rubber growers to sell their produce to this facility, which will offer competitive prices and faster payments,” he added.
ALSO READ: Top Lashkar commander behind Pahalgam attack killed in Srinagar encounter: Sources
In a parallel initiative, the chief minister also laid the foundation stone for Meghalaya’s first fruit dehydration unit, to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 23 crore.
Scheduled for completion by November 2026, the facility will process 7,400 metric tonnes of fruit annually, benefiting over 5,000 farmers by reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring better price realization.
The event was attended by PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, MLA Marthon Sangma, and Sr Rose, Secretary of MMCS, among others.
