SHILLONG: The Opposition on Wednesday cornered the Agriculture Minister Baneteidor Lyngdoh over his reply on a motion moved by Mawsynram MLA HM Shangpliang on the plight of farmers who cultivate broomstick, bay leaf and black pepper.
The minister while replying to most of the queries of the MLAs said that he would examine all their suggestion that irked the MLA H M Shangpliang
Shangpliang said that the reply of the Minister seemed to be copy and paste of the research of some researchers or the scientists
Blaming the department for the reply with which he was not impressed, Shangpliang said that he was expecting a much more serious reply from the Minister.
The MLA also slammed the department saying they should do their homework while preparing the reply for the Minister.
Earlier, Lyngdoh while replying to the motion said that he would discuss the matter of exporting broomstick to neighbouring country like Bangladesh even as he added that the matter of bringing broomstick under agricultural produce would be examined.
According to Lyngdoh, broomstick, bay leaf and wild pepper were classified as minor forest produce and transit passes were required from the respective District Council and State Forest department for transporting these products outside the state.
He, however, added that as per the Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Act, both broomstick and tezpatta (bay leaf) were notified as agriculture produce.
Giving details, he said that minimum-maximum wholesale price of broomstick in first four months of 2018 at Mawiong Regulated Market was Rs 2000-4000 in January, Rs 2000-4000 in February, Rs 1800-3200 in March and Rs 2000-3000 in April.
Minimum-Maximum wholesale price per quintal of broomstick in first four months of 2017 was Rs 4000-3200 in January, Rs 3400-5200 in February, Rs 1500-4500 in March and Rs 1500-4200 in April.
Earlier while participating in the motion, HSPDP MLA Renikton Lyngdoh urged the minister to ban the sale of plastic brooms in the state