SHILLONG: The Hill Farmers Union has demanded special financial package for farmers during COVID crisis.
While appreciating the government for declaring 2020 as the Year of the Farmers during the second Meghalaya Farmers’ Parliament in Tura in December 2019, the Union said that there is a need to extend the tenure further to 2021.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the president of Hill Farmers Union, Commander Shangpliang said in the context of COVID situation, the farmers are suffering as their income has been affected.
Though the farmers had expected financial assistance from the government, nothing was announced till date. What surprised the Union is that the government has not officially notified the Year of the Farmers though the year is coming to an end.
While urging the state government to notify the Year of the Farmers, the Union wanted special package for the farmers in distress in addition to the existing central and state schemes.