SHILLONG: The Chairman of Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, John Kharshiing, has sought the intervention of DGP R Chandranathan to rescue the farmers in distress as they are unable to sell their agricultural produce due to the lockdown.
In a letter addressed to the DGP, Kharshiing said, “a number of distress messages have come to us from different parts of Meghalaya including a recent message from Commander Shangpliang, 8837287374 and Alfonso Kharsyntiew, 8974071503 president, general secretary of Hill Farmers’ Union, respectively, informing us of the distress that the farmers is facing due to the lockdown”.
As per a letter from the HFU, there is an urgent distress request call from farmers from Umraleng and adjoining villages which are 15/16km from Umiam Highway and the area is ahead of Umbir and Mawlyndep village. The farmers are looking for solutions to sell their current produce which is fresh local carrots. They informed that the farmers will be harvesting around 1000 kgs of carrots and need urgent help to sell and lift them.
Similarly, there are a large quantity of peas, lakum and mustard leaves harvested from Mylliem, Sadew upto Mawngap area. There are also tomatoes and capsicum being harvested from Umsning upto Nongpoh area.
A large quantity of cabbage is also available from Mawkynrew and Sohryngkham areas. Fruits, including banana are also harvested in plenty from Ri-Bhoi area and strawberry from Mawkynrew and Mylliem areas. “Inview of this, Kharshiing urged the DGP to examine the possibility of Meghalaya police helping the Hill Farmers Union for the supply of local produce so as to support the farmers during this time of crisis.
