Canadian province invests in Meghalaya to provide quality pork

Meghalaya Government today made an agreement with the Government of Alberta province, Canada, to get high quality pork to address shortfall in its production in the state.

Grant Winnton, a senior official of the Government of Alberta, signed the agreement by which the Canadian province would provide technology and support in enhancement of production and maintenance of high standards of pork meat.

"The agreement is in line with the government's initiative to ensure that people are able to access quality meat, free from diseases, as well as to motivate our entrepreneurs to embark in investing in this sector," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters.

He said the quality of meat products (pork) remained uncertain in Meghalaya as no one knows the sources from where the animals came from.

Meghalaya which consumed 8,704 tonnes of pork during 2011-12 faced an annual shortfall of 1,395 tonnes of meat.

Sangma said the Alberta government "would also provide more impetus to the people to consider livestock rearing as a suitable livelihood opportunity."

He said, "If our people can rear livestock which will be economically beneficial for them as well as provide an opportunity to sell products which are of high nutritional value, where the quality of the meat cannot be questioned, it is worthwhile for the government to embark on such initiatives.