SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday asserted that the farmers’ parliament will become an annual affair in the state.
Participating in the concluding function of the two-day farmers’ parliament, Tynsong said, “I will relay the message to the government that the farmers’ parliament will be held every year.”
The minister observed that it was necessary to provide a forum to the farmers to exchange views and suggestions and air their grievances akin to what public representatives do in the Assembly or Parliament.
He admitted that the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary and Agriculture departments have failed to address the lot of farmers since the government lays stress on theory rather than taking a pragmatic approach.
“The real scientists are the farmers and they know better – be it the kinds of fertilizers or the time to sow and the scientific knowledge of the farmers is very precious,” Tynsong said.
The government will use the forum to combine the traditional knowledge of the farmers and scientific methods to usher in a change in the state.
Later speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the first ever farmers’ parliament was very productive stressing on the government’s seriousness.
“Will make sure that the recommendation made through the farmers’ parliament will be translated into reality by the government,” he said.
The deputy chief minister also pointed out to the challenges that lay ahead, saying that genuine beneficiaries were not getting benefits due to them. “We held the farmers’ parliament to assist the genuine beneficiaries as some of the grants and subsidies get into the wrong hands,” he added.
Farmers’ report
Around 700 farmers from across the state participated in the parliament and they were divided into three groups – agriculture/horticulture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Fishery.
Members of each of the three groups chose a representative who presented their report at the farmers’ parliament.
The report submitted by the Agriculture and Horticulture group suggested that farmers should increase the quantity of seeds and asked the government to come up with a seed village. The farmers also asked the government to come up with missions on orange, pineapple, apple and potato.
The budgetary allocation to the departments of Agriculture, Veterinary, Irrigation and Soil should also be enhanced, the farmers felt.
The government should identify organic farmers who would be designated as ‘model farmers’, the report said, while suggestion ropeways as a means of transporting agri produces in places where there is no road connectivity.
The second report prepared by the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry group suggested that the government should fill up the vacant posts in the concerned department.
“Most of the farmers do not get to meet the officers as most of the posts are vacant,” the report said. The farmers also felt that training on artificial insemination for cattle and pigs should be imparted to the farmers. The report also suggested construction of government farms in different districts.
The final report of the Fishery group called for construction of additional hatcheries to enable farmers to get fish feed and creation of a special market for sale of local varieties of fish.
