Shillong, May 31: Meghalaya has got its first integrated cold storage facility for fish and livestock products, a move expected to strengthen the state’s fisheries and livestock supply chain while reducing post-harvest losses.
The facility at Mawblei in Shillong has a combined 45-metric-tonne chiller and freezer capacity and is being positioned as a key part of Meghalaya’s push to build a structured cold chain network for fish and livestock products across the state. The facility was inaugurated on May 29.
The project is being spearheaded by the North East Development Initiative (NEDI) under ABK Media India Pvt Ltd, with J Mawkhiew Enterprises serving as the carrying and forwarding (C&F) partner for Meghalaya.
A major highlight of the inauguration was the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the initiative and the Fisheries Department, Government of Meghalaya, aimed at strengthening long-term cooperation in fisheries, livestock infrastructure and rural enterprise development.
The facility was inaugurated in the presence of senior officials from the Fisheries Department and the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, along with industry stakeholders and entrepreneurs.
Officials said the cold storage hub would help improve storage capacity, maintain product quality, reduce wastage and support better market access for farmers, fisheries stakeholders and livestock entrepreneurs across Meghalaya.
The project also aims to build a larger supply chain ecosystem linking distributors, retailers, fisheries producers and rural entrepreneurs, while creating new opportunities for youth and small businesses.
“The inauguration of this cold storage facility is not merely the beginning of a business collaboration; it is the coming together of the people of Meghalaya to build a shared ecosystem for growth and prosperity,” said Somjit Dutta, founder member of NEDI.
He said the long-term vision was to position Meghalaya as a major fisheries and livestock hub by developing local value chains, entrepreneurship and community-led enterprises.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by 12 distributors from across the state, while an additional 30 to 35 sub-distributors are expected to join the network in the coming months to strengthen district-level distribution and last-mile connectivity.
Officials associated with the initiative said the next phase of the project would focus on establishing Meghalaya’s first fish and livestock processing unit, creating an integrated ecosystem for storage, processing, branding, packaging and distribution.
