Snapshot

Meghalaya is located in the Northeast of India. The state shares its border on the north and east with Assam and on the south and west with Bangladesh. Meghalaya, with an average annual rainfall of 1,150 cm, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the country. The diverse range of soil types, including red-loamy and laterite, support various agricultural crops like rice, maize, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, jute and mesta. The state has achieved success in the cultivation of non-traditional crops like tea, cashew nut, oilseeds, tomato, mushroom, wheat, etc. During 2018-19^, the state produced 324.67 thousand tonnes of fruits and 91.70 thousand tonnes of spices.

As of May 2019, Meghalaya had a total installed power generation capacity of 582.21 MW, comprising 354.53 MW from state utilities, 0.12 from private utilities and 227.56 MW from central utilities. Of the total installed power generation capacity, 394.27 MW was contributed by hydropower, 155.29 MW by thermal power and 32.65 MW by renewable power. estimated to be 2,298 MW.

Meghalaya, with abundant deposits of coal, limestone, kaolin feldspar, quartz, granite, industrial clay and uranium and a small deposit base of sillimanite, bauxite, base metals and apatite has great industrial potential.

Meghalaya, one of the most picturesque states in the country, has two National Parks and three wildlife sanctuaries. It offers many adventure tourism opportunities like mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking & trekking, water sports, etc. Passenger traffic at Barapani airport, Meghalaya stood at 12,957 and 12,482 in 2017-18 and 2018-19, respectively.

  • Rs 7.8 cr

    Meghalaya gets for construction of textile tourism complex

 

Sericulture and Weaving in Meghalaya are the two most important cottage based, eco-friendly industries in the rural areas. These twin industries portray the cultural ethos and rich heritage of the people of the State. In the absence of a textile industry, Sericulture and Weaving can play an important role for the production of Silk fabrics and hand woven fabrics of ethnic designs. Till date around 15,900 families are involved in handloom activities and 16,000 families in Sericulture farming. The infrastructure of the Department was inherited from the erstwhile Assam Government and it became a full fledged Department under the Government of Meghalaya in the year 1979.

The thrust area under sericulture sector is to boost up cocoon and silk production by development of systematic and economic plantation at sericultural farmers level so as to enhance the productivity per unit area through implementation of need-based schemes such as Integrated Eri, Mulberry and Muga Development Program Training facilities are provided to the farmers, reelers and spinners on improved methods. In-service training of technical personnel and training for the educated unemployed youth for self employment are also provided. Under Handloom Weaving sector, efforts are being made to increase production of hand woven fabrics in the state. Various need based schemes are implemented to step up production of best quality handloom fabrics so as to promote the socio-economic upliftment of the poor weavers. The activities also involve training and demonstration on appropriate techniques at all stages of operation on improved fly shuttle looms. Training facilities are provided to handloom weaving trainers under the scheme on Silk Weaving Technology Programme to private handloom weavers in clusters.