Shillong, December 1, 2025: The final day of the 1st Northeast India Organic Week and the 4th IFOAM World Organic Youth Summit concluded today in Shillong in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, marking the culmination of a four-day international convergence of global buyers, organic agriculture experts, youth delegates, farmer groups, and stakeholders from across the region and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasised that advancing the organic movement requires sustained collaboration and commitment from all sectors.
“Our agenda has always been to uplift the farmers of our state and the region,” he said. “I urge all stakeholders not to treat this as the end of an event, but as the beginning of a longer journey. For us, farmers continue to be at the centre of policy-making and every programme is target-based and time-bound.”
Highlighting Meghalaya’s deep-rooted cultural connection with organic farming, he noted that traditional agricultural practices have stood the test of time and are now positioning the Northeast as a global resource of indigenous knowledge. “The word ‘organic’ is more than just a buzzword for us. It is part of our heritage and reflects how our people have farmed for centuries,” he said.
The Chief Minister also announced an ambitious initiative to expand organic cultivation across the state, saying the move would significantly benefit farmers and generate wider socio-economic impact. He acknowledged logistical limitations in the region and affirmed that strengthening transport and market access systems remains a top priority to ensure farmers reach both national and global markets.
Speaking at the event, Vinita Sudhanshu, General Manager of APEDA, praised the Northeast for emerging as one of India’s strongest organic clusters. She lauded Meghalaya’s community-driven farming model, noting that recent initiatives have empowered local producers while supporting biodiversity conservation. She highlighted the success of the Buyer–Seller Meet on November 29, which enabled direct business engagement between farmers, FPOs and global buyers, and announced upcoming export and capacity-building initiatives including exposure visits for progressive FPOs to the Gulfood event.
Jennifer Chang, Executive Director of IFOAM Asia, described Meghalaya as a potential global model for holistic organic development where agriculture, tourism and community values coexist. She called for strong collaborations, encouraged participation in the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, and praised the government’s efficiency.
Setting the context for the programme, Isawanda Laloo, Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, reiterated Meghalaya’s natural advantage in organic cultivation due to its heritage and geography. She noted that more than 50 metric tons of premium produce—including Khasi Mandarin, pineapples and ginger—have already been successfully exported to Gulf nations through partnerships with APEDA.
During the experience-sharing session, young entrepreneur Ibalahun Thangkhiew, CEO of Jirang Organic Agro Farmers Producer Company Ltd., shared her journey of empowering small farmers across 15 villages and exporting Khasi Mandarin to Dubai in 2022.
The programme featured a tour of exhibition stalls, interaction with farmers and entrepreneurs, a recap film screening, sharing of best practices, the launch of the Organic Compendium, and the unveiling of the MEGNOLIA website, followed by remarks from APEDA and IFOAM officials.
Jointly organised by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, APEDA, IFOAM–Organics Asia, and MEGNOLIA, the summit served as a platform for policy dialogue, trade networking, and knowledge exchange aimed at strengthening Northeast India’s organic export value chain. Discussions focused on market access, certification, traceability standards, youth involvement, and integrating farmers into global supply systems.
The four-day event is expected to significantly boost the region’s role in sustainable and export-oriented organic agriculture.
