The Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board and Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd. have signed a MoU to improve agricultural marketing and supply chains in Meghalaya. The agreement aims to enhance logistics, support farmers, and boost the state’s organic product supply.
In a significant move to enhance agricultural marketing and supply chain management in Meghalaya, the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). This agreement aims to enhance collaboration in agricultural marketing and supply chain management in Meghalaya.
The MoU signing event was graced by key figures including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman & Managing Director of NDDB, Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Principal Secretary of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, and Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressed enthusiasm about the MoU, highlighting its potential to foster a long-term partnership. “We are delighted with this MoU, as it will enhance logistics and significantly reduce transit time for our produce. With Mother Dairy’s extensive network, we expect substantial benefits for our farmers,” he stated. Sangma emphasized that the MoU’s primary goal is to support farmers, improve their livelihoods, and ensure better market pricing and value addition for their products. He also envisions Meghalaya emerging as a prominent supplier of organic products both within India and internationally.
The partnership aims to address key challenges faced by the state’s farming community by improving direct market connectivity and post-harvest management. Experts from Mother Dairy will work with the state to upgrade current practices, focusing on crop research and development, varietal improvements, and productivity. The initiative will also target optimizing logistics costs, marketing the ‘Meghalaya brand’ in Delhi, and strengthening the dairy, fruit, and vegetable value chains, along with the organic sector.
Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of NDDB, praised the MoU as a pathbreaking initiative. “The strategic partnership between the Meghalaya State Agricultural Marketing Board and Mother Dairy will foster sustainable growth and promote agricultural products from Meghalaya. We are committed to supporting farmer-centric initiatives and ensuring better prices for their produce,” Shah said.
Mother Dairy will contribute to varietal improvement, shelf-life extension, and value-added processing, further enhancing productivity. Shah assured that NDDB will continue to empower farmers by providing direct market access and integrating the agricultural products from Meghalaya and other North Eastern States into its network, focusing on their organic potential.
Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., emphasized the role of NDDB in connecting farmers with consumers through a unified platform. “This collaboration highlights our commitment to linking India’s rich agricultural heritage with urban markets, offering premium produce from across states to discerning consumers both nationally and internationally,” he stated. Bandlish also noted the positive response to Meghalaya pineapples at Safal outlets in Delhi and announced plans to expand the initiative to include more varieties from the state, such as Ginger, Lakadong Turmeric, and GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin.
