SHILLONG: The CEM of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Titos Chyne has encouraged local traders to procure broomstick from local farmers/producers instead of depending on Marwari traders for the supply of broomstick outside the state.
It may be mentioned that Marwari traders have refused to buy the broomstick of local farmers/producers citing that the Transit Pass (TP) issued by the KHADC for the purpose have to be procured at exorbitant price.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting on Thursday with MDCs to discuss the incident, Chyne said, “The Marwari traders feel they are monopolizing the business. It is time we encourage our local people to also buy products of the farmers”.
He also said that the TP issued by the KHADC would cost the traders Rs 36 paise per kilo of broomstick. The farmers and traders meet at Mawiong Regulated Market.
Asserting that the traders are not paying a good price for the broomstick, he said that the farmers/producers of broomstick were not complaining anything yet.
Sounding annoyed, he questioned the categorization of broomstick as 1, 2 and 3 by traders depending on the quality.
“There is no minimum support price for the broomstick which will be a loss for the farmers”, he said.
Chyne said that KHADC MDCs would meet the Agriculture Minister and the Forest Department in this regard on Wednesday.