Shillong: Meghalaya took a major step forward in its mission to become a national leader in organic farming with the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Mother India Farms, a Bengaluru-based organic agri-enterprise, and the Tomonpo Anglong Organic Farmers Producer Company Ltd., a farmer collective in Ri-Bhoi district.
Facilitated by the Meghalaya Natural and Organic Society for Livelihood and Innovation in Agriculture (MEGNOLIA), the agreement aims to strengthen the market integration of Meghalaya’s certified organic produce—starting with the state’s premium Kew variety pineapples—into both domestic and international supply chains.
Nearly 300 farmers from six villages in Ri-Bhoi district are registered under the Tomonpo collective, which was founded in 2017 under the MOVCD-NER scheme with support from the Directorate of Horticulture.
The group currently manages over 500 hectares of certified farmland and produces between 600 and 800 metric tonnes of pineapples annually.
Their clients include major institutional buyers such as Mother Dairy and Reliance Fresh.
Under the agreement, Mother India Farms will finance and implement a comprehensive Internal Control System (ICS) at no cost to the farmers.
This includes training, internal inspections, data management, and facilitation of organic certification.
The company will also procure, market, and offer price premiums for the certified produce, depending on quality and market dynamics.
Dr. Vijay Kumar D., Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing farmer incomes through institutional support and international market access.
“We are happy to support initiatives that bring in technical expertise and certification systems. With proper infrastructure, our farmer groups will be able to market their pineapples, turmeric, and other produce globally,” he said during an interaction with representatives from Mother India Farms.
R Durairaj, CEO of Mother India Farms, expressed confidence in Meghalaya’s organic potential.
“We are optimistic about scaling up operations here. FoodChain ID is supporting us in achieving the necessary certifications to access global markets. This MoA is a significant milestone,” he said.
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Apart from pineapples, Tomonpo farmers also cultivate certified organic ginger, Khasi Mandarin, black sticky rice, banana, and guava.
With the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025 on the horizon, the agreement is expected to further elevate the state’s presence in premium organic markets.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including B. Mylliem Umlong, Director of Horticulture; M. Lyngdoh Suiam, Chief Administrative Officer, MEGNOLIA; Pranjal J. Dutta, District Horticulture Officer, Ri-Bhoi; Raghavendra M.T., Senior General Manager, Mother India Farms; Chinmayee Deulgaonkar, Managing Director, FoodChain ID; and John Lyngdoh, CEO of Tomonpo Anglong Organic Farmers Producer Company.
