Shillong: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, through the office of the Principal, Basic Agriculture Training Centre, awarded the achievements of 8 Best Performing candidates from different districts a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each to support their ventures under the programme titled, ‘The Training of Rural Educated Youth for Self-Employment on Farm-Based Activities’ (TREYSEFA)’. The event was held at the BATC building in Upper Shillong.
Addressing the programme, Dr Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Meghalaya said, “I am deeply honoured to see the potential of the BATC for training and guiding young youths who are involved in various agricultural activities. Farmers are the backbone of the state, and it is the duty of the Government to support them in every aspect they require.” She commended all the awardees and candidates and urged them to work hard and dedicate their time and efforts.
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Lyngdoh added that the Government is keen to bring policies and reforms to strengthen the agricultural sector and empower farmers so that the local produce will be accessible in the markets to make the state self-sufficient. She also stated that the government would bring accessible funds which will enhance their livelihood.
In his keynote address, Maqbool Suiam, Principal of Basic Agricultural Training Centre (BATC) said that this programme celebrates the TREYSEFA candidates who have completed their training and is the first time that the BATC is organising such a programme. “TREYSEFA was initiated to impart training to the youth, especially from the rural areas to make them self-sufficient and get jobs in the agriculture sector in 2018. In 2021, Rs 10,000 which was being provided as seed money to the candidates was raised to Rs 1 lakh,” Suiam added.
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TREYSEFA is an on-campus training programme conducted through classroom lectures and practical hands-on training. It involves field demonstrations, field exposure visits, and teaching the youth about economics potentiality, post-harvest technology, market linkages, planning, finance, investment, and overall management, for self-sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship. Since, 2018, the TREYSEFA programme has been organised annually.
The event involved the distribution of awards and handing over of the seed money of Rs 1 lakh to 20 TREYSEFA candidates of the batch 2023-24 to kickstart their ventures. A short documentary on the achievements of the candidates was also displayed.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Isawanda Laloo, IAS, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Meghalaya; along with DC Sohtun, MAS, Director, Horticulture, Meghalaya; and Monica Mawroh, MAS, Senior Instructor, Basic Agricultural Training Centre (BATC) and officials from other allied departments.
