Full Story
On 15th July, on the occasion of Global Youth Skills Day, the Global Association of MSMEs (GAMSME) organised an introductory training session for members of the Marngar Cluster Farmers Producer Multipurpose Cooperative Society at Madanheh Village, Marngar, Umling Block, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya.
The session was conducted by Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh, Assistant Director, MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Shillong, who provided valuable insights into the role and mandate of the MSME Department. The training introduced FPO members to various MSME initiatives and support mechanisms, including the Cluster Development Programme and Udyam Registration, helping them understand the importance of formal registration and integration into the wider MSME ecosystem.
During the session, Shri Singh also shared inspiring success stories from MSME-supported projects, encouraging the FPO members to explore new opportunities, strengthen their enterprise capabilities, and work towards building sustainable business models.
The training holds special significance for the Marngar FPO, which is being supported under the Integrated Value Chain Enhancement for Environmental Sustainability (IVCEES) Project, implemented by the School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD) with funding support from UNDP.
Through the IVCEES project, the FPO has already received critical infrastructure and equipment, including a Turmeric Processing Unit, washer, pulper, juicer, and solar pumps, with a cold storage facility in the pipeline. These interventions aim to enhance value addition, improve processing capacity, strengthen market linkages, and increase livelihood opportunities for the farming community.
As the FPO continues to grow and prepares to participate in the larger business ecosystem, this training marked an important milestone. It was the first interaction between the FPO members and an MSME official, and also the first visit of an MSME Department representative to their village.
The session reaffirmed the MSME Department’s commitment to supporting emerging rural enterprises by providing guidance, awareness, and handholding support. Through such collaborations, initiatives like the Marngar FPO are being encouraged to transition towards becoming self-reliant, formally registered, and sustainable rural enterprises.
Gallery
