ITANAGAR, May 14: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) inaugurated a Rural Haat at Mebo in East Siang district on Thursday, as a part of its effort to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve market access for farmers and self-help groups (SHGs).
The Rural Haat was inaugurated by NABARD General Manager SV Ranga Rao, in presence of officials from NABARD including DDM East Siang district Nitya Mili, ZPM, CO, ArSRLM, APRB, NGO, local vendors, farmers and SHGs.
The Rural Haat has been constructed by Sisang Indigenous Area Development Society (NGO) and funded by NABARD, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Office, Itanagar. The project aims to empower local producers, especially women-led SHGs by providing a structured platform to market their products.
Speaking on the occasion, GM Rao stated that the Rural Haat is extremely essential to mitigate the marketing hardship faced by the local farmers, vegetable growers and women SHGs to sell their agri & horticulture produce. Especially in state like Arunachal Pradesh it will be a game changer for the farmers in selling their produce and in reducing their post-harvest losses, the GM added.
The DDM stated that the Rural Haat will be very beneficial for the farmers of Mebo and nearby area.