SHILLONG, Feb 16: A large number of strawberry farmers under Mawkynrew Community & Rural Development Block, mainly from the villages of Nohron, Syntung, Siangkhnai, Mawlang, Jatah Lakadong, Ksanrngi, Mawdulop, Pashang, Khlieh, Asem, Mawlang etc., had been growing strawberries for several years now and this has become a profitable livelihood for the farmers of the area. Last year a number of farmers did not receive the strawberry saplings during the planting season which begins in the second week of October up to the second week of December. As a result several farmers that rely on strawberry cultivation for their livelihood are facing acute financial crisis.
Today in Shillong strawberries are imported from outside the state at a price that is higher than what local producers charge. Farmers in the above villages said that earlier the Horticulture Department was encouraging the farmers to grow strawberries by providing grants to them and also helping them acquire planting material, watering system, mulch etc. But in 2022 only three units (beneficiaries) from Mawkynrew Block received that assistance from the District Horticulture Office (DHO), East Khasi Hills. Other farmers from Nohron, Ksanrngi, Siangkhnai and other villages never received the seedlings.
When this matter was brought to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture, Banteidor Lyngdoh who is also the MLA, Mawkynrew constituency in November 2022, he told this correspondent, “Please tell the people not to politicise this matter. The Department is trying its best to procure the saplings.” The farmers waited in vain. Then they were called for a meeting by the DHO and informed that the Department could not procure enough strawberry seedlings. This dealt a huge blow to the strawberry farmers.
Meanwhile the Horticulture Department clarified that they had already distributed the strawberry planting materials to the farmers across the state in October and November last year through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), which is a centrally sponsored scheme.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Monday, a senior official said that the allocation of the planting materials was given to the strawberry farmers in Mawpran and Nohron village in East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi and West Garo Hills.
“We cannot allot the whole lot of planting materials only to a particular area. We have to distribute equally to all the districts,” the official said while reacting to complains by the strawberry farmers from Mawkynrew area that they are no longer receiving planting materials from the department.
According to the official, now the planting season is over as it is harvesting season. On this there is no argument. The farmers know their planting and harvesting season. What the farmers are asking is why only some beneficiaries have received the planting material while others have not. They want to know the criteria for selection of farmers.
The DHO also admitted that it was difficult to get the planting materials. He said a scientist from Himachal Pradesh had suggested raising strawberry planting materials at the fruit garden but it was found that the survival rate is very low, the official informed.
According to the official, the scheme was also stopped since it was difficult to get the planting materials.
Informing that there are a total of around 200 strawberry farmers across the State, the official said that the government earmarks around Rs 80 lakh for purchasing of strawberry planting materials and those are allotted after assessing whether the soil was suitable for plantation of strawberries. The official further stated that the Department is assisting the farmers for until they are familiar with the strawberry planting and nurturing process.
“We expect the farmers to be independent once they no longer require any handholding from our scientists and experts,” the official added.
The Shillong Times met up with some strawberry farmers in Syntung village.
They said they had got their planting material online after paying Rs 15 per sapling. However, they stated that the Department was assisting them with the drip watering method and other requirements.
The question remains as to how the other farmers who did not receive their saplings will sustain themselves this year since strawberry planting has become a sustainable livelihood for them. It would appear that the FOCUS and FOCUS+ schemes of the MDA Government has by-passed the farmers of Mawkynrew Block.
