Department of Agriculture

What Department of Agriculture does

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya is a state government department headquartered in Shillong that delivers agricultural development, extension, and farmer-support services to all farming households across Meghalaya's 12 districts. Its operational footprint spans five internal directorates (Agriculture, Horticulture, Research/Training & Technology Induction, Marketing Board, and Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium) plus a Soil Testing Laboratory, reaching farmers through a tiered network of district offices, blocks, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMAs), and Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMC). Core programs include agriculture and horticulture schemes, the Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme (MARVS), and academic programs (B.Sc. Agri/Hort admissions, TREYSEFA certificate course), delivered alongside the State Biological Control Laboratory (SBCL), Upper Shillong — established June 2003 as the state's only facility mass-multiplying biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Rhizobium, PSB, Bacillus megatherium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, ZSB, KMB, VAM), biopesticides (Trichoderma, Beauveria, Metarhizium, Lecanicillium), and Trichogramma bio-agents across four species.

The technology stack is modest and government-standard: the official portal (megagriculture.gov.in) is designed, hosted, and maintained by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Meghalaya State Centre, with linked dashboards for SBCL production-versus-utilization and a Farmers Dashboard (megfarmer.gov.in). Integration surface is limited to outbound links with national portals — Soil Health Card, AGMARKNET, Kisan Call Center, Farmer Portal, mKisan, dial.gov.in, My Bharat, and Meghalaya Marketing Board — with no public API, no mobile app, and no proprietary software IP disclosed. No AI/ML capabilities, patents, or trademarks are referenced; differentiation rests on biological-input domain knowledge, a 2014 regulatory ban on chemical pesticide/fertilizer procurement, and the SBCL's sole-state production monopoly rather than on technology moats.

The Department does not operate a commercial revenue model. It is funded through Government of Meghalaya budgetary allocations and implements centrally sponsored schemes (e.g., PMKSY-Per Drop More Crop) alongside state schemes (e.g., Meghalaya State Organic Mission / MEGNOLIA), delivering subsidized and free bio-inputs, training, and advisory services to farmers. GTM is extension-driven rather than self-serve: farmers are reached through on-ground officers, KVKs, ATMAs, and CIPMC; tenders, EOIs, and RFPs are issued publicly to onboard vendors; and the marketing mix leans on the official website, a Blogger-hosted blog, government portals, and event-based training/counselling. Customer segments are farmers state-wide (primary), agriculture/horticulture students and trainees (secondary), and vendors/service providers engaged via procurement notices (tertiary).

Name

Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya

Website

https://megagriculture.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya is a state government department headquartered in Shillong that delivers agricultural extension, farmer support schemes, and bio-input production across all 12 districts of Meghalaya through district offices, KVKs, ATMAs, and the State Biological Control Laboratory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Agricultural Services

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFABAEAN

Biologicals Distribution & Field Application Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Biologicals & Biopesticides (Microbials, Botanicals, Beneficial Insects)

SECONDARYAFACAGAC

Commodity & Stored-Product Pest Control (Grain, Feed, Seed)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Services (Custom Farming, Agronomy, Veterinary)/Pest Management Services (IPM, Fumigation, Rodent/Bird Control)

Keywords

• Agricultural extension services
• Farmer support programs
• Organic agriculture development
• Biological pest control
• Government agricultural schemes

Headquarters

HQ city

Shillong

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government budgetary allocation: As a state government department, the Department of Agriculture, Meghalaya is funded through Government of Meghalaya budgetary allocations rather than commercial revenue streams. It implements centrally sponsored schemes (e.g., PMKSY-PDPC) and state schemes (e.g., Meghalaya State Organic Mission - MEGNOLIA).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya delivers public agricultural extension services, farmer training, and government schemes (Agriculture, Horticulture, MARVS) to the farming population of Meghalaya across all 12 districts. It operates the State Biological Control Laboratory (SBCL) at Upper Shillong, which mass-multiplies biofertilizers, biopesticides, and Trichogramma bio-agents, and distributes them to farmers as part of the state's organic production transition initiated in June 2014.

Product overview

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Meghalaya operates a single unified web portal at megagriculture.gov.in that bundles a public information/awareness platform with operational modules. The core platform provides navigation across Agricultural Scenario, Crops, Schemes (Agriculture and Horticulture), Thrust Areas, Achievements, and Contacts. Built on this platform are advisory modules (Integrated Pest Management, Integrated Nutrient Management, Organic Agriculture, Floriculture, Watershed Management, Water Management, Agri-Business, Marketing, Farms, Farmer's Corner), flagship schemes (Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme — MARVS, Agriculture Schemes, Horticulture Schemes), the externally hosted Farmers Dashboard, and the State Biological Control Laboratory (SBCL) Dashboard with its Bio-Inputs Programme for mass multiplication of biofertilizers, biopesticides and bioagents. External service tiles link to the Soil Health Card, AGMARKNET, Market Price Information (megamb.gov.in), Intelligence Advisory System for Farmers (iasf.in) and Agri Mechanisation among others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• State Biological Control Laboratory (SBCL): Department-affiliated laboratory established in 2003 for mass multiplication of bio-agents, bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers in support of organic agriculture in Meghalaya.
• MEGNOLIA

Products and services

• Meghalaya Agriculture Response Vehicle Scheme (MARVS) Flagship agriculture response vehicle scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture for farmers in Meghalaya.
• Agriculture Schemes Portfolio of agricultural schemes administered by the Department, including an overview page and Frequently Asked Questions sub-page for farmer beneficiaries.
• Horticulture Schemes Portfolio of horticulture schemes administered by the Department, including an overview page and FAQs sub-page for farmer beneficiaries.
• State Biological Control Laboratory (SBCL) Bio-Inputs Programme Programme of the SBCL, Upper Shillong that mass-multiplies biofertilizers (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Rhizobium, PSB, Bacillus megatherium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Consortia, ZSB, KMB, VAM), biopesticides (Trichoderma, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium robertsii, Lecanicillium lecanii), and bio-agents (Trichogramma japonicum, T. chilonis, T. brasiliensis, T. brassicae) for distribution to farmers in Meghalaya.
• Farmers Dashboard Farmer-facing data dashboard hosted at megfarmer.gov.in providing farmer-level data visibility for the Department of Agriculture.
• SBCL Dashboard Dashboard at the SBCL page presenting production vs. utilization charts of biofertilizers, biopesticides, and bio-agents produced at the State Biological Control Laboratory, Upper Shillong, with district-wise beneficiary charts.
• Farmer's Corner Farmer-facing consolidated resource corner providing access to farmer-relevant services, advisories, and information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 districts of Meghalaya covered by SBCL distribution network
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• National Informatics Centre (NIC), Meghalaya State CentreflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNIC designed, developed and hosts the official Department website (megagriculture.gov.in) including the SBCL Dashboard. Footer credits: 'Site designed and developed by National Informatics Centre, Meghalaya State Centre.' NIC also maintains and updates contents on behalf of the Department. Relationship is Them to Us — NIC provides technology infrastructure and web platform services to the Department.
• Government of Meghalaya (parent entity)flagshipOthersDepartment of Agriculture is a constituent department of the Government of Meghalaya, with cross-linkage to the Meghalaya state portal (meghalaya.gov.in). Provides policy direction, budgetary allocation, and administrative oversight.
• MEGNOLIA (Meghalaya State Organic Mission)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEGNOLIA is the Department's flagship organic mission vehicle referenced in active EOIs/RFPs: (1) inviting agencies for empanelment as IT solutions provider (website hosting, maintenance, content creation, social media management for 24 months); (2) inviting RFPs for onboarding service providers under Phase II of the Meghalaya State Organic Mission.
• Soil Health Card (national portal, soilhealth.dac.gov.in)coreTechnology or IntegrationLinked external national service under Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (Government of India) enabling Meghalaya farmers to access soil health cards. Cross-promoted on the Department's services block.
• AGMARKNET (agmarknet.gov.in)coreTechnology or IntegrationLinked external portal under Government of India providing agricultural market data, daily data entry and market profile updation for Meghalaya markets.
• Kisan Call CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment of India farmer helpline linked from Department's External Sites block; provides phone-based advisories to farmers across the state.
• Farmer Portal (farmer.gov.in) and mKisan PortalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment of India farmer-information portals cross-linked from External Sites; enable dissemination of SMS advisories (mKisan) and scheme information to Meghalaya farmers.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKVKs serve as last-mile distribution and extension partners for SBCL bio-products (biofertilizers, biopesticides, bio-agents) and for technology transfer/awareness of biological control practices across all districts of the state.
• ATMAs (Agricultural Technology Management Agencies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorATMAs at district level distribute SBCL finished bio-products to farmers and assist in extension of biological control practices.
• CIPMC (Central Integrated Pest Management Centres)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCIPMC stations collaborate with the Department on biological control extension, helping distribute SBCL bio-products and supporting farmers in IPM adoption.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC): SFAC is the national-level society that promotes agribusiness for small farmers, with state chapters including Meghalaya SFAC (listed as a subsidiary of the Department). Comparable as the institutional parent for FPO formation, agribusiness incubation, and market-linkage services that the Department delivers through its Meghalaya SFAC unit.
• MANAGE - National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management: MANAGE is the national apex institute for agricultural extension management, responsible for training extension personnel across India. Comparable as the capacity-building counterpart for the Department's extension officers, KVK staff, and ATMA functionaries, and a relevant peer for benchmarking the B.Sc. Agri/Hort and TREYSEFA training programmes.
• NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development: NABARD is India's apex development bank for agriculture and rural development, a key financing channel for state agriculture projects, FPOs, and agribusiness. Comparable as a financial partner and capacity-building counterpart for state-level agricultural initiatives, including organic farming and farmer-producer organization development relevant to MEGNOLIA Phase II.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): ICAR is the national apex body for agricultural research and education in India, parent of the KVK network that the Department partners with for last-mile extension. Comparable as the national-level counterpart coordinating research, bio-input development (e.g., NBAIR's biocontrol labs), and agricultural education that state departments like Meghalaya's build upon.
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India: The central ministry that funds centrally sponsored schemes (PMKSY-PDPC, Soil Health Card, mKisan) the Department depends on and implements. Comparable as the broader portfolio owner of national agriculture policy, and a key counterpart for state departments on scheme design, funding flows, and policy direction.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB): NHB is the national-level agency for horticulture development, including schemes for ginger, turmeric, and other crops that are central to Meghalaya's horticulture directorate. Comparable as a funder/partner for horticultural value-chain development and a benchmark for horticulture scheme design that the Department adapts at the state level.

Direct peers

• Department of Agriculture, Karnataka: Karnataka's state agriculture department operates a comparable set of services: farmer support schemes, input distribution, soil health, market linkages, and extension. It is a direct functional peer in scope (multi-directorate state department) and offers benchmarking on digital maturity (e.g., its farmer-facing portals and mobile apps) that Meghalaya's department is currently working to develop.
• Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Tamil Nadu: Another large Indian state agriculture department delivering farmer support, input subsidies, extension services, and crop development schemes. Directly comparable as a state-level apex body for agriculture policy and operations, with a comparable mix of directorates, KVK linkages, and scheme-based farmer engagement.

Regional players

• Department of Agriculture, Government of Assam: Assam's state agriculture department serves the immediate geographic neighbor of Meghalaya, with similar agro-climatic conditions, rice/horticulture crop mix, and smallholder farmer base. It is a regional peer for benchmarking organic-input programmes, KVK networks, and horticulture value-chain development, and competes for the same Northeast farmer mindshare and central scheme funding.

Emerging players

• National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM): NIPHM is a national-level autonomous body under the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation focused on plant health management, IPM, and biological control capacity building. Comparable as a specialized institution whose mandate (IPM, bio-control, farmer training) closely mirrors SBCL's niche, and a potential capacity-building or technology partner for Meghalaya's organic transition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/megagriculture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/government-of-meghalaya-department-of-agriculture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Department of Agriculture