SHILLONG: The central body of the Hill Farmers Union (HFU) has lauded the government for passing the Meghalaya Farmers (Empowerment) Commission Bill, 2019.
“On behalf of the union, I would like to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to the government under the leadership of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh for having passed the Meghalaya Farmers (Empowerment) Commission Bill, 2019,” said HFU president Commander Shangpliang.
The union had demanded the government to set up the farmers commission in the state after the 1st Meghalaya Farmers Parliament in 2018.
The union had also submitted a ten point charter of demands including the demand to set up the farmers commission, to declare 2019 as the year of the farmers as well as to come up with the Agriculture Policy.
“The union would like to request the chief minister and the minister of agriculture to address the ten point charter. We also urge the chief minister to give priority to the farming sector as majority of the population in the state depends on agriculture,” said Shangpliang.
“The government cannot claim that the state is developed until the farming community is taken care of,” he added. Shangpliang also informed that the union will hold the 2nd Meghalaya Farmers Parliament in Tura later this year.
“After the Farmers Parliament in Tura, the union will submit the memorandum to the government pertaining to the issues concerning Garo Hills,” he said.
