On 15 July 2026, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, members of the Marngar Cluster Farmers Producer Multipurpose Cooperative Society participated in an introductory training on the MSME ecosystem at Madanheh Village, Marngar, Umling Block, Ri Bhoi, Meghalaya.
The training was organised by the Global Association of MSMEs and conducted by Shri Prabhat Kumar Singh, Assistant Director, MSME Development and Facilitation Office, Shillong.
During the session, Shri Singh introduced the FPO members to the mandate and role of the MSME Department and explained key support mechanisms available to emerging enterprises. The members were introduced to important schemes and processes, including the Cluster Development Programme and Udyam Registration.
Success stories from previous MSME supported projects were also shared to help the members understand how formal registration, institutional support and access to government schemes can strengthen rural enterprises and improve their long term growth prospects.
The Marngar FPO is being supported under the Integrated Value Chain Enhancement for Environmental Sustainability project, implemented by the School of Livelihood and Rural Development with funding from UNDP.
Through the IVCEES project, the FPO has already received a turmeric processing unit, washer, pulper, juicer and solar pumps. A cold storage facility is also in the pipeline. These interventions are intended to strengthen value addition, reduce post harvest losses, improve production capacity and enhance the livelihood and earning potential of the FPO members.
As part of its continued engagement with the FPO, the School of Livelihood and Rural Development is supporting the members in strengthening their institutional capacity, improving access to infrastructure and preparing them to participate more effectively in the wider business ecosystem.
The training marked an important milestone in this journey. It was the first time the FPO members had formally interacted with an MSME official and the first time a representative of the MSME Department had visited their village.
The session helped the members gain an initial understanding of enterprise formalisation, registration and government support available to rural businesses. It also created an important link between the FPO and the MSME Department as the cooperative progresses towards becoming a self reliant, formally registered and market ready enterprise.
