How the co-operative lender NCDC is working hard to rewrite the fate of Meghalaya was evident when its MD Sundeep Nayak made a presentation before the Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI Atul Chaturvedi, when the latter visited NCDC headquarters on Thursday.
Talking about the Meghalaya mission which aims at a comprehensive development of the state, Nayak said the Mission seeks to double the income of farmers through promotion of milk business in Meghalaya and NCDC has sanctioned Rs 204.71 crore to the state government for this.
“It is expected that this mission will generate employment opportunity for over 4000 people and milk production will be raised to 70-80k liter per day in five years”, Nayak said detailing many activities undertaken by NCDC in the state.
Quoting NCDC’s Meghalaya Piggery Mission (MPM), Nayak said it aims at quantum jump in hygienic pork production to cater to the demands of not only the North Eastern Region but also export to South East Asia. An Integrated project for Development of the Piggery sector in Meghalaya will cost Rs 220.50 crore, he informed.
“This project will benefit 35,000 pig farmers in the state and 5000 unemployed youth will get livelihood. This would provide regular source of income to members of 300 PACCS”, he noted.
Giving an overview of NCDC role in dairy and related sectors in the country, Nayak informed that NCDC has released Rs 5788.63 crore for the development of dairy, livestock, poultry and piggery till January 2020.
“In the last five years around 36 lakh members of cooperative societies engaged in these sectors have benefited through NCDC’s assistance”, he informed the secretary.
On the side-lines, Nayak also informed the Secretary about other works being undertaken by NCDC. He informed the Secretary about his meeting with Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang last week to boost marketing of its organic produce. He also briefed the Secretary on International Cooperative Trade Fair where different MoUs were signed. Three MoUs were signed in the Dairy sector, Nayak underlined.
Impressed with the presentation, the secretary noted, ”I have noticed that cooperatives have their existence in almost all the sectors and I urge NCDC to engage cooperatives in the business of pig and goat meat which is in high demand in North-Eastern states. Presently, the pig meat is coming from Punjab but the meat supplied by Karnataka is not of good quality, he added.
The secretary who evinced a keen interest in the presentation made by Nayak on the occasion also asked a few questions to understand the developmental works, which were answered by the MD promptly.
One of the participants said on the occasion that NCDC is making efforts in rejuvenating the cooperative movement in North Eastern states. The initiatives especially for North eastern states are always the top priority for NCDC, he noted with satisfaction.
Those present on the occasion included J.P.Meena, former secretary and senior advisor NCDC, several senior officials of NCDC and many officials from its training wing LINAC, among others.
