A separate Directorate of Food Processing would be created in Meghalaya to help farmers create value addition of various agricultural products including fruits.
This decision of the Meghalaya government was taken by the State Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in Main Secretariat at Shillong on Tuesday.
Informing about the State Cabinet decision, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told media persons here after the Cabinet meeting that the directorate would take care of various items like fruits and other agricultural products to ensure better utilization and value addition.
Tynsong said that the directorate would operate under the State Agriculture Department and the department has been asked to work out the details related various requirements including the need to increase manpower.
The State Deputy Chief Minister also said that the decision to create the new directorate has been taken as it was necessary to create taking into account the richness of the State in the production of various fruits like pineapples, oranges, potatoes and other agricultural produces like tomato, black pepper and others.
He further informed that their Government has also been looking to encourage entrepreneurs and youths of the State to set up various processing units in different sectors across the State.