World Food India 2024 concluded after four days of industry showcases, with a significant focus on Meghalaya’s sustainable farming practices and entrepreneurial efforts, generating promising collaborations for local food processing
World Food India 2024 wrapped up today after a four-day event at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, spotlighting opportunities in India’s food sector. Central to the event was the Meghalaya Pavilion, where the launch of "Meghalaya Collectives" garnered strong interest from investors in the food processing industry.
The event facilitated important meetings between Meghalaya's entrepreneurs and major industry players, including Zepto, Big Basket, Lulu Group International, PepsiCo, Patanjali Food, Mother Dairy, and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL). These discussions focused on enhancing market linkages and collaboration in food processing, offering significant potential to boost Meghalaya's local food industry.
Dignitaries, including Chirag Paswan, Minister of Food Processing Industries, and Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, commended Meghalaya's initiatives, particularly the government-backed "Meghalaya Collectives" project. This initiative emphasises the region’s sustainable farming and showcases premium local produce, such as Lakadong Turmeric and Khasi Mandarin, alongside efforts to foster rural entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs from Meghalaya were at the forefront of the event, sharing their success stories. Reena Nongrum, founder of Mewan Food Processing, credited her achievements to training provided by NABARD and encouraged women to take advantage of Meghalaya’s abundant natural resources. Dawhoi Dhar, founder of Naki, highlighted the invaluable networking opportunities the event offered, enabling connections with international customers and investors.
Namshrang Ruddiee Diengdoh, owner of Nongrep, noted that the B2B exhibition attracted interest from countries like Belarus, Poland, and Japan, generating valuable leads for local farmers.
The Meghalaya Pavilion featured 20 exclusive brands, promoting local produce and entrepreneurship while placing strong emphasis on increasing farmers' incomes and sustainable agriculture practices.