Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma formally inaugurated the Sustainable Land Management Meghalaya Project (SLM) and unveiled the Protection of Vulnerable Catchment Areas in Meghalaya (MegARISE) for the Umiew Catchment at a programme held at the State Convention Centre, Shillong, on 1 October 2024, organized jointly by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) and the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA). These externally aided projects (EAP) are co-funded by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the Government of Meghalaya.

He noted that the successful launch of the SLM project and the unveiling of MegARISE were results of careful planning and preparation over the past 5-6 years. The current stage is critical as ground work would soon commence at full-scale to achieve the desired outcomes in line with the established targets.

She also emphasized that these practices will help mitigate the impacts of climate change on natural resources. Dr. Lyngdoh called for collaboration between farmers and the state government to ensure a better future for the next generation, protecting natural forests and resources. She urged farmers not to rely solely on the government for grievance redress but to work together in partnership, trusting in the support of international funding agencies such as KfW, which aims to empower farmers by creating or strengthening existing platforms for their benefit.

As part of the programme, three community members shared their experiences with farming. Teimon Shylla from the LIFE Spices Processing Cooperative Society Ltd. in Laskein and Laiwilberth Sangma from Jamge Nengbal, East Garo Hills, both spoke about the successes they achieved in farming with the support of the SLM project. The third speaker, Winchester Nongbet from Mylliem Block, shared his journey as a beneficiary of the MegARISE project.