SHILLONG, Aug 28: Reiterating that the MDA Government is committed to promote organic farming in the state, Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh has, nonetheless, pointed out that a section of farmers in the state, especially in East Khasi Hills, have been severely affected by the ban on use of fertilisers imposed in 2014.
“The state government is still committed to promote organic farming. But there are a section of farmers especially in East Khasi Hills who are badly affected following the ban on the use of fertilizers in 2014,” Lyngdoh said here on Sunday.
He went on to reveal that a according to a study conducted by the department, the farmers engaged in cultivation of these crops have witnessed production reduce by more than 50 per cent.
According to him, the state government has to step in to ease the sufferings of these farmers.
The Agriculture minister said that the department will regulate the use of fertilisers only for certain crops like potato, tomato and cabbage.
The department, as per him, will also ensure that urea and other fertilisers are used in very small amounts.
Talking about the government’s intervention with regard to this issue, Lyngdoh said that the state government has decided to provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers procuring chemical fertilisers after the ban was lifted.
“For me, this is the victory of the farmers who have suffered for the past eight years,” he said.
The state government had on August 25 issued an office order to provide 50 per cent subsidy to farmers procuring the fertilisers.
Lyngdoh said that the farmers will be provided the subsidy to procure fertilisers from Meghalaya State Cooperative Marketing and Consumers’ Federation Limited (MeCOFED).
Lyngdoh explained that he had requested Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to provide subsidy to the farmers since the rate of urea in the market is around Rs 700-800.
