Sahai urges NE states to focus on organic farming

Shillong, Oct 29 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Food Processing and Industries, Subodh Kant Sahai today urged the remote North-eastern states to focus more on organic farming to meet the country's requirement.

''There is huge demand for organic products in the developed countries,'' Mr Sahai said, while inaugurating the first regional ministry's flagship expo, AAHAR at Polo ground here.

The three-day AAHAR exhibition is aimed at providing an ideal forum for investors, entrepreneurs and consumers alike to develop and nurture vital business linkages and derive optimised mileage as a result.

The union minister also announced a slew of incentives and schemes for the north eastern states to help boost region's three key allied sectors--fruits, vegetables and spices.

Informing the gathering at the inauguration function of the AAHAR and Tourism Expo, Mr Sahai said he had recast his ministry's 11th Five-Year plan to help farmers and rural entrepreneurs learn both 'know-how' and 'do-how' of processing and value addition of fruits, vegetables and spices in order to get better price for their crops.

Chief Minister D D Lapang said though Meghalaya was emerging as one of the frontline producers of Strawberry, rose and Anthurium, it had very little avenues for processing facilities and marketing.

UNI