India's largest piggery project launched in Meghalaya

While addressing the event organized at the national capital for hand over of the first tranche of financial assistance amounting to about Rs 53 crores, Chief Minister Meghalaya Conrad Sangma said in the presence of Union Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhury, "The project would be rolled out immediately as it directly impacts the economic well being of farmers in villages."

Conrad thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the clarion call for doubling the farmers income towards which the project is directed. The project involves 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' as it would not only substitute pork imports into Meghalaya but also export hygienic pork products. The event was also attended by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong among others.

The NCDC has sanctioned a project of Rs. 220.50 crore to the Government of Meghalaya for development of the Piggery sector through cooperatives under the 'Meghalaya Piggery Mission'. The project envisages setting up of 300 satellite pig breeding farms, small slaughter houses, product transport small vehicles and pork vending kiosks. It also includes the setting of pig feed-storage unit, quality-certification facility and a pilot facility for the processed products, brand-promotion and market-support for exports. The project will also provide refrigerated transport vehicles for supporting the cold chain. This is the biggest project sanctioned by NCDC in North East and the first project for development of the Piggery sector in the country, stated a release.

The Government of Meghalaya has outlined the contours for implementation of the 'Piggery Mission'. It involves the Meghalaya Livestock Enterprises Advancement Society (M-LEADS) constituted with Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary as Chairman and the Commissioner & Secretary, Finance & Cooperation Departments as the Chief Executive Officer. The Governing Body of M-LEADS has representation from other important stakeholders such as Community & Rural Development Department, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society and the Meghalaya State Cooperative Apex Bank. 208 Cooperative Societies have been already identified for implementation of the Piggery Mission and M-LEADS and the State Government is now ready for implementation of the Piggery Mission.

The Meghalaya Piggery Mission (MPM) aims at bringing about a quantum jump in pork production so as to cater to the demand of not only the NE Region (NER) but also exports to South East Asia in line with the 'Act East' policy.

In the ensuing three years of implementation, the 'Meghalaya Piggery Mission' would provide regular source of income to 35,000 pig farmers and regular source of livelihood to 5,000 unemployed youth of the State all of whom belonging to tribal community.

With collaboration of the private sector, higher quality germplasm would be brought in for multiplication at the 'Nucleus Breeding Centres'. These centres will be the source for continuous supply of quality piglets to the beneficiaries of the project affiliated to cooperative societies.

The project would promote high quality hygienic pork, reduce dependence on piglets from outside the State and also ensure supply of quality and disease-resistant piglets. It would also result in surplus production which will be exported to other States and beyond the borders.

The project is proposed to fulfill objectives like sustainable livelihood development through the formation of multipurpose cooperatives structure, well-channelized backward and forward linkages, production and marketing of clean hygienic pork/pork products and socio-economic upliftment of weaker sections of society in Meghalaya, the release added.

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