Marcuise Marak highlights CM FARM+ as game-changer for Meghalaya farmers

July 5, 2025

World

Shillong, July 5: Cabinet Minister and local MLA Marcuise N. Marak on Saturday hailed Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s economic roadmap for Meghalaya, reaffirming government efforts to transform the state into a ₹90,000-crore ($10 billion) economy.

Speaking at the CM FARM+ outreach programme organised by the District Horticulture Office at Ganingbibra under Samanda C&RD Block, Marak praised the CM’s vision to place Meghalaya among the top ten Indian states, stating that “every department has been directed to align with this development mission.”

“CM Conrad Sangma is working tirelessly to make Meghalaya a top-performing state. From agriculture to infrastructure, his goal is holistic and inclusive growth,” Marak told attendees, which included local farmers, officials, and community members.

Launched under the Chief Minister’s Focused Rural Development Programme, CM FARM+ aims to boost farm incomes by supporting cultivation of high-value crops such as cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper. Farmers receive quality planting materials, farm inputs, training, and financial assistance under the initiative.

“These are the best quality seeds being distributed. Once they bear produce, farmers will earn well, uplift their families, and contribute directly to the state’s economy,” Marak said. “When our farmers grow, Meghalaya grows.”

The minister also underlined the government’s integrated development approach, spanning horticulture, road infrastructure (PWD), water supply (PHE), education, tourism, and environmental conservation.

He pointed to recent administrative reforms, notably the inauguration of the Additional Secretariat in Tura, as a landmark in decentralising governance. “Earlier, people had to travel all the way to Shillong even for small official tasks. Now, with ministerial offices and cabinet meeting facilities in Tura, governance is closer to the people of Garo Hills,” he said.

Marak also revealed that new IAS officers had expressed interest in being posted to the facility, calling it a sign of forward-looking administrative planning.

Reiterating the impact of CM FARM+, he said the programme is designed to double farmers’ incomes by promoting modern agricultural practices and expanding cultivation of cash crops.

“This is not just seed distribution—it’s a movement to empower rural Meghalaya and ensure prosperity for every household,” he concluded.

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