Shillong, October 17: A One Day ‘Focus Group Workshop’ on 1917-iTEAMS (Integrated Technology Enabled Agri-Management System) was organized by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya at the Integrated Agriculture Training Centre(IATC), Upper Shillong on Tuesday where Chief Minister, Dr.Mukul Sangma attended as Chief Guest. Also present on the occasion were Commissioner& Secretary, Agriculture Department, Shri. P. Sampath Kumar,Joint Secretary, Agriculture Department, Shri. B.Mawlong, officials of various line Departments, farmers, entrepreneurs and others.
Addressing the officials and participants at the inaugural session of the workshop, Chief Minister, Dr.Mukul Sangma stated that iLEADS is an important intervention of the government further adding that the workshop provides an ideal forum for integration of ideas amongst stakeholders. Dr. Sangma also stated that in a technology driven era, there is a need to ensure that available technology is leveraged upon for ensuring that farmers get access to necessary information so that farming becomes more remunerative.
Highlighting on the fact how food security and nutrition security revolve around farming and farmers, the Chief Minister said that there is a need to empower and skill farmers, and to create a comprehensive support system to them, while also stating that there is also, a need to design farming in such a manner as to attract the young generation towards farming activities. Dr. Sangma also said that the government is creating an enabling environment to boost the sector and called upon the people to participate with the government in order to make agriculture more attractive, productive and remunerative.
It may be mentioned that iTEAMS (Integrated Technology Enabled Agri-Management System) is a new initiative of the government to enable and facilitate access to remunerative and sustainable markets for farmers’ produce through the implementation and operation of a logistics and extension facilitation service which would help provide remunerative returns to farmers.
