SHILLONG: 20th May 2022 (PTI Source)
The Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, announced on Monday that his administration has set aside Rs 220 crore, which has been kept for the farmers under the scheme- Farmers Collectivisation for Upscaling Production & Marketing System (FOCUS).
The state government developed the innovative project to allow farmers who were affected by the pandemic to obtain financial aid for resuming farming activities. The farmers must establish producer organizations, which have between 10 and 20 members, under the program.
The farmers' groups are eligible for financial aid based on the group's strength, which is calculated at Rs 5,000 per member.
“The money sent under FOCUS is not any loan, it's government aid,” according to the CM. On a misconception in parts of Rongjeng that the FOCUS funds were loans, he said, "The monies released through FOCUS are not loans but rather government assistance."