Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launches KfW Development Bank- funded Projects

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.

The programme was also attended by Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, and Dr. Florian Wieneke, Senior Portfolio Manager, KfW Development Bank, Germany, alongside senior officials from the Government of Meghalaya including Shri. Donald Phillips Wahlang, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. Sampath Kumar, IAS, Chief Project Director, MegARISE & Development Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya, Smt. Isawanda Laloo, IAS, Project Director, SLM & Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, and Shri. Gunanka DB, IFS, Additional Project Director, MegARISE & Joint Secretary, Planning, Investment Promotion & Sustainable Development Department, Government of Meghalaya. The programme saw the participation of about 400 people including community members, farmers, and farmer groups from several villages as well as representatives from various line departments and agencies of the State Government.

In his address, Chief Minister Sangma highlighted the importance of sustainable land management practices that would empower local communities while ensuring environmental conservation. He acknowledged that Meghalaya was endowed with rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, which necessitated a delicate balance between development and conservation. He pointed out that the KfW Development Bank-funded projects are a collaborative effort that brings together various stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and development partners. He emphasized the need for innovative approaches to address the challenges faced by farmers and communities in Meghalaya, while expressing confidence that these projects would provide the necessary tools and support to enhance agricultural productivity, improve natural resource management, and strengthen community resilience.

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.

Shifting focus, Shri. Sangma underscored the urgent need for Meghalaya to grow its economy by 12%, with the goal of reaching a 10 billion economy by 2028. He affirmed that the government was committed to ensuring that this growth was responsible and sustainable. While aspirations were high, he emphasized that attention to the environment and the welfare of communities and farming households remains paramount. Addressing socio-economic conditions, he touched upon the challenges posed by coal mining and the negative repercussions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban. He underscored the importance of learning from past mistakes to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction in seeing projects take shape and conveyed eagerness for collaboration with stakeholders, farmer beneficiaries, and rural households. He assured that the Government of Meghalaya would support KfW and the implementing agencies to ensure that the projects are implemented earnestly and expressed hope for a long-standing partnership with KfW to achieve collective goals.

Agriculture Minister Dr. M. Ampareen Lyngdoh expressed her delight at hearing the firsthand experiences of farmers, choosing to speak to the participants in Khasi to emphasize her pride in how far they have come. She reiterated the government's full commitment to supporting farmers and expressed her gratitude for the collaboration between the Government of Germany and the Government of Meghalaya in this effort, noting that Germany, a much more developed country, is working alongside Meghalaya to uplift its farmers.

Dr. Lyngdoh clarified that EAPs are designed to improve the livelihoods and quality of life for future generations of farming households in Meghalaya. She highlighted the benefits of organic farming and the importance of discouraging the use of chemical fertilizers, educating farmers about the long-term sustainability and health of the soil. She assured the participants that the government does not intend to impose changes on their traditional practices but instead encourages them to embrace technology and community-led initiatives, leveraging their traditional methods to access better markets and improve their incomes.

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. By doing so, Meghalaya can become a model for sustainable agriculture and livelihoods, inspiring other states to adopt similar best practices.

Chief Secretary Donald Phillips Wahlang, IAS, reflected on the challenges faced by the state since the 2015 ban on coal mining, which resulted in substantial financial losses, particularly in royalties. By the time the new government took office in 2018, Meghalaya was grappling with a severe financial shortfall, struggling to fund even basic expenditures such as salaries. He highlighted the government’s innovative efforts to mobilize resources for development, particularly through externally aided projects (EAPs). Shri. Wahlang expressed pride in Meghalaya’s achievement of having the highest number of EAPs as of 2024, crediting this to the collaborative efforts of the political leadership and government officials. He noted that these projects are the result of out-of-the-box solutions to the state’s financial challenges and represent an important step toward ensuring the development and sustainability of Meghalaya.

Dr. Florian Wieneke expressed pleasure in participating in the launch and emphasized KfW's focus on climate action and environmental protection while highlighting the importance of these projects in tackling Meghalaya’s challenges like fragmented land, limited market access, and the need for better catchment management. Aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the projects also met local aspirations for self-reliance. He noted the key achievement of BRDC’s accreditation as an Organic Certification Body, making Meghalaya the second state to achieve this after Sikkim. Dr.Weineke looked forward to the continued strong collaboration between KfW and the Government of Meghalaya. The programme saw the participation of nearly 400 people, including representatives from various line departments and agencies of the State Government, as well as community members from several villages and groups.

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.

About SLM

The Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project aims to promote agroecological and natural/organic agricultural practices among Meghalaya’s farmers. By enhancing and transitioning existing farming methods, the project seeks to increase the value of agricultural products and improve market accessibility. Key initiatives will be carried out by the partner implementing agencies: the Directorate of Horticulture (DoH), the Bio-Resources Development Centre (BRDC), and the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), with the M eghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) serving as the project executing agency (PEA). A critical component of the SLM project is to support farmers in obtaining certifications like NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) and PGS (Participatory Guarantee Systems), which will elevate the credibility and marketability of their produce. The overarching objective is to connect farmers to remunerative markets, while also addressing debt burdens and boosting productivity. Through the promotion of organic farming, empowerment of farmer capacities, tackling certification challenges, and strengthening market linkages, the project will work to improve both the livelihoods and long-term sustainability of Meghalaya’s agricultural communities.

About MegARISE

MegARISE is designed to tackle the pressing challenges of water security and the sustainable management of water resources in Meghalaya. Building on the Government of Meghalaya's 2019 Water Policy, which called for the establishment of Water Resources Councils at the village, block, district, and State levels, the project emphasizes the preparation and implementation of micro-watershed, and catchment plans. The initiative focuses on two critical areas: the Umiew catchment, which secures the water supply for Shillong, and the Ganol catchment, which ensures water availability for Tura. By addressing unsustainable catchment management practices, MegARISE aims to enhance both water security and local livelihoods through scientific, participatory methods and community-led forest management. Key measures include participatory planning, capacity building, improving forest ecosystems, and strengthening community livelihoods, all aimed at fostering long-term sustainability in the region's water resource management.