Awareness programme organised

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 11: An awareness programme for Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and entrepreneurs to build value chain processing infrastructure was held today at Classic Grande, Chingmeirong.
The awareness programme was jointly organised by the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFI) under the aegis of the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER).
Speaking on the occasion, K Debadutta Sharma, Additional Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation said that due to ineffective transportation and logistics methods, the farmers of the State are unable to sell fresh produce in the markets though organic products are produced on a large scale.
He further emphasized the importance of packaging and   processing the produce and to sell it to designated markets which will help in enhancing the income of the farmers and the State's economy.
K Debadutta who is also the Project Director of MOMA informed that 75 percent subsidy is given to entrepreneurs and FPCs by NEDFI under the aegis of MOVCDNER for opening processing and packaging units and 50 percent subsidy is given to export oriented products.
Apart from the subsidies, NEDFI is also conducting courses on project making to entrepreneurs and FPCs and providing bank loans and other benefits and today's programme is conducted to spread awareness on such benefits, he added.
The awareness programme was also attended by Manojkumar Das, Deputy Manager, NEDFI, Guwahati, Priyobrata Gurumayum, Branch Manager, NEDFI Imphal, entrepreneurs and representatives of FPCs in the State.