Farmers incur loss as sales drop during lockdown

SHILLONG: The farming community of Mawpynthih village under Mylliem constituency has suffered huge loss due to the lockdown as the sale of their produce is cut by half.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, secretary of Mawpynthih village, Halan Sing Kharmudai said the farmers are facing problems in marketing their produce as sale has gone down to 30 kg from 50 kg-60 kg. The farmers at Mawpynthih cultivate cauliflower, cabbage, peas, potato etc.
The lockdown pushed the farmers to sell their produce at places such as Umtyngar and expressed concern that prices of essential commodities have shot up. Farmers are facing problems of procuring fertilizers and paying wages for the farm labourers, he added.
“Farmers are in a dilemma. The prices of essential commodities are increasing whereas farmers are not earning their livelihood well enough to keep up with the inflation. We have to sell our produce at low prices”, he said.
When asked, he said that a farmer loses about Rs 10,000 as they are selling their produce at a much lower price to the traders.
Meanwhile, the headman of Rangbihbih, Wilfred Sohtun said that farmers in the area are also facing difficulty in paying back their bank loans.
This problem looms large in the minds of the farmers, he said.
“They become depressed and do not have enough money to repay their loans as they are suffering huge losses due to the lockdown”, he said. The farmers usually take loans starting from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Social activist, Egenstar Kurkalang said the government should intervene to waive off loans taken by farmers.
“There should also be regulated markets where agricultural prices can be maintained. The state government should also talk with other states of Assam, Tripura, West Bengal to ensure that fresh vegetables from the state also reach these states as well as other states so that vegetables from the state are not wasted”, he said.
He also appreciated the effort of the state government to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1980.
The act will be tabled during the upcoming re-assembled budget session from May 20.
Meanwhile, a section of the farmers are susceptible to the sudden transition to organic agriculture from their current practice.
Kharmudai said that there should be a comparison between organic farming and inorganic farming to see which method yields better result.
“We cannot directly venture into organic farming. We are still doubtful when it comes to organic farming as we are yet to know how successful it is. If it yields better results, we are willing to try”, he said.