Shillong, March 17: A one-day Regional Conference on Natural Farming was held at MAMETI, Upper Shillong, bringing together policymakers, scientists, officials, and farmers to discuss strategies for promoting sustainable and chemical-free agriculture in Meghalaya. The conference was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, through the Regional Centre for Organic & Natural Farming (RCONF), Imphal, in collaboration with the Meghalaya Natural and Organic Farming Society for Livelihood and Innovation in Agriculture (MEGNOLIA).
The conference focused on developing a strategic framework to integrate natural farming into Meghalaya’s broader economic and social development plans while enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.
Delivering the keynote address, Bansara Mylliemnagap, Director of Horticulture, Meghalaya, highlighted that the state already has a natural advantage in adopting organic and natural farming due to its traditional agricultural practices. She said that natural farming can help restore soil health, reduce production costs, and enable farmers to secure better market prices.
She also stressed the need to integrate livestock into farming clusters and involve the younger generation to ensure long-term sustainability in the sector.
Maqbool Lyngdoh Suiam, Chief Administrative Officer of MEGNOLIA, explained the organisation’s role in capacity building, certification support, and creating market linkages for farmers.
He stated that the state government is working towards a target of bringing one lakh hectares under organic farming by 2028, with a focus on cultivating high-value crops and transforming small landholdings into profitable chemical-free farming zones.
Providing an update on Meghalaya’s progress under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), Lucky Diengdoh, Joint Director of Horticulture, said that 79 farming clusters have been established and more than 9,100 farmers have been enrolled, covering about 3,950 hectares of land.
She added that soil assessments are ongoing and around 89 percent of the targeted soil health cards have already been distributed to farmers.
During the conference, Dr. V.Y. Deoghare, Regional Director (I/c) of RCONF, Imphal, spoke about the national perspective on natural farming and highlighted the need for effective implementation at the local level to achieve national targets.
Dr. Praveen Vootla, Junior Scientific Officer of RCONF, also conducted a technical session on government initiatives for promoting chemical-free farming and alternative agricultural systems in India.
Shanlang Lyngdoh, Chief Operating Officer of the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS), highlighted the role of Self Help Groups and women farmers in promoting natural farming practices across the state.
He also suggested initiatives such as weekly farmer schools, risk-free trial farming, and community seed banks to encourage wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.
The conference concluded with an interactive panel discussion on the needs, challenges, and opportunities in natural farming in Meghalaya. Several farmers from different districts were honoured with the Best Farmer Award for their contribution to promoting organic agriculture.
Officials said that by aligning state agricultural policies with national sustainability goals, Meghalaya aims to become a leading state in chemical-free cultivation while strengthening the livelihoods of its farming communities.
