Need to expand food processing sector: Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma Tuesday said there is an urgent need to expand the food processing sector to create avenues for livelihood generation through entrepreneurship and improve the economic status of farmers.

"The food processing industry accounts for only 10 per cent of the total agricultural produce of the State. There is a need to expand the sector to create avenues for livelihood generation through entrepreneurship and improve the economic status of farmers," he said, addressing at a food processing workshop here.

The chief minister said, "Value addition has been one of the key focus area for the government. Keeping this in mind the government has recently created the Directorate of Food Processing to tap the potential and give adequate thrust to agro processing activities in the State."