Guwahati: Taking another step towards the PM Modi-envisioned "aatma nirbhar" (self-reliant) initiative, "India's largest piggery mission" was today launched in Meghalaya by Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Kailash Choudhury.
Funded by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), the Rs. 209 crore project is a step towards Aatma Nirbhar, said the State's Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. Sangma further added in a tweet that this new project is aimed at making Meghalaya self-sufficient in pork production.
"The Piggery Mission would make the state self-sufficient in pork production and would also go a long way in making Meghalaya Atmanirbhar," Sangma said during the launch at the NCDC headquarter in New Delhi.
Chief Minister Sangma further added that the Meghalaya State Piggery Mission has been launched with a focus on augmenting farmer income and attaining self-sufficiency in food and nutrition security
The cheque of the first installment of Rs. 52.36 Cr for India's Largest Piggery Mission in Meghalaya was today handed over by Union Minister Choudhury in the launch programme.
Sangma added that the Meghalaya State Piggery Mission, supported by the NCDC, will enable the state to achieve self-sufficiency in pork production, reduce Meghalays's out-of-state import burden by nearly Rs. 150 Crores annually and improve the incomes of over 25,000 households, totaling to an annual increment of Rs. 70 Crores across the state. Sangma further added that under this mission, farmers will be provided with interest-free loans.
"India's Largest Piggery Development Project will increase the income of over 25,000 households in Meghalaya added with an expected ₹691 Cr additional income over the next 8 years for the State. Through this, farmers can avail loan with 0% interest," the Chief Minister added in a tweet.