India’s Largest Piggery Project Launched in Meghalaya

New Delhi-   Meghalaya Government has taken the lead in launching India’s largest piggery project with assistance from NCDC, the apex financing body for cooperatives.

Mr Conrad Sangma, Chief Minister Meghalaya said, while addressing the event organized at the national capital for hand over of the first tranche of financial assistance amounting about Rs 53 crores, the project would be rolled out in the ground immediately as it directly impacts the economic well being of farmers in villages.

He thanked  Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the clarion call for doubling the farmers income towards which the project is directed. The project involves Atmanirbhar Bharat as it would not only substitute pork imports into Meghalaya but also export hygienic pork products. The event was attended, among others, by Mr Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister Meghalaya. 

National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has sanctioned a project of Rs. 220.50 crore to the Government of Meghalaya for development of Piggery sector through cooperatives under Meghalaya Piggery Mission. The project envisages setting up of 300 satellite pig breeding farms, small slaughter houses, product transport small vehicles and pork vending kiosks. It also includes pig feed storage unit, quality certification facility and pilot facility for processed products, brand promotion and market support for exports. The project will also provide refrigerated transport vehicles for supporting the cold chain. This is the biggest project sanctioned by NCDC in North East and the first project for development of piggery sector in the country.

The Government of Meghalaya has outlined the contours for implementation of Piggery Mission. It involves the Meghalaya Livestock Enterprises Advancement Society (M-LEADS) constituted with Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary as Chairman and Commissioner & Secretary, Finance & Cooperation Departments as Chief Executive Officer. The Governing Body of M-LEADS has representation from other important stakeholders such as Community & Rural Development Department, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society and the Meghalaya State Cooperative Apex Bank. 208 Cooperative Societies have been already identified for implementation of the Piggery Mission and M-LEADS  and the State Government is now ready for implementation of the Piggery Mission.

The Meghalaya Piggery Mission (MPM) aims at quantum jump in pork production so as to cater to the demand of not only the NE Region but also exports to South East Asia in line with ACT EAST policy.  

In the ensuing three years of implementation, the Meghalaya Piggery Mission would provide regular source of income to 35000 pig farmers and regular source of livelihood to 5000 unemployed youth of the State all of whom belonging to tribal community. With the collaboration of private sector, higher quality germplasm would be brought in for multiplication at Nucleus Breeding Centres. These centres will be the source for continuous supply of quality piglets to the beneficiaries of the project affiliated to cooperative societies. Project would promote high quality hygienic pork, reduce dependence on piglets from outside the state and ensure supply of quality and disease resistant piglets. The project would also result in surplus production which will be exported to other States and beyond the borders.

The project is proposed to fulfill objectives like sustainable livelihood development through formation of multipurpose cooperatives structure, well channelized backward and forward linkages, production and marketing of clean hygienic pork/pork products and socio-economic upliftment of weaker sections of society in Meghalaya.