IFAD’s BOT model in Jirang has traded 60 MT of GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin, 181 MT of ginger and over 10 MT of pineapple.
Shillong, Oct 10: A project of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) covering over 400 farmers at Jirang in Ri-Bhoi district received a boost with IFAD director Dr Alvaro Lario encouraging the stakeholders at the site.
The IFAD project is credited for transforming traditional farming into a profitable commercial enterprise trading over 250 metric tonnes of spices and fruits from the region.
“I think it’s something that we are very proud of what they have achieved,” Dr Lario said at the site of Jirang Organic Agro Farmers Produce in Ri-Bhoi as he wrapped up his two-day visit to Meghalaya on Saturday.
Calling for sustainability of the initiative, the IFAD president said, “The best goal is probably that they continue raising the income, improving their livelihoods and hopefully in the future also continue producing more and having more value added so that it can be reinvested in the community.”
He held a meeting with the FPO leadership and sampling organic spice products.
The Jirang site, backed by USD 0.20 million (about Rs 1.9 crore) under the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP), operates on a Build-Operate-Transfer model and connects 433 farmers, majority women.
It has traded 60 MT of GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin, 181 MT of ginger and over 10 MT of pineapple.
MBMA CEO Vijay Kumar D said the model must now scale up by tapping central schemes and external support, assuring continued government backing for collaboration with IFAD.
The visit followed Day One engagements at Umwang Pyllun IVCS and Erifa Prime Hub at Bhoirymbong, where Dr. Lario flagged off fresh Megha-1 turmeric export to Singapore — marking a shift from subsistence to market-linked, export-oriented farming in the state.
