By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 24: VPP chief and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit on Friday demanded of the state government to take immediate steps to counter the exploitations of farmers in Iewduh.
The ongoing Budget session on Friday witnessed a lot of exchanges between legislators of different parties on the agricultural front, some of which include policies of the government on agriculture produce, industries, marketing, minimum support price (MSP) and the hardships faced by the agrarian community in Meghalaya.
Basaiawmoit said that no matter how many markets are created, Iewduh will continue to be the crowd’s favourite and the main market for the farmers.
He said it is Iewduh where the farmers are facing exploitation.
Basaiawmoit also asked the state government and the Agriculture department to initiate immediate steps to stop any kind of exploitation of the farmers.
In reply, Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said, “Not even a month has passed since this department has come under my purview. I am also being told that these factors are there. I can only assure that I have taken note of the suggestions and problems highlighted and I will have to appraise myself first then we will decide and see what the best way forward is. But one thing I can see from all the questions raised, I will try my best to bring out stricter policies. Give me some time.”
Congress MLA from Mawhati Charles Marngar also asked about the policy of the government on agricultural produce with regard to agricultural industries, marketing and MSP.
In reply, Ampareen said, “The department is implementing various central and state schemes for setting up agri-processing infrastructure in the state, including Pradhan mantriFormalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME-MOFPI) and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).”
On marketing, she said that the department has undertaken various interventions to facilitate marketing of agricultural and horticultural produce in the state.
She also informed that although the MSP has not been implemented in the state, various marketing initiatives, however, are being implemented through cooperatives and other collectives to support the farmers.
Replying to another query of the Mawhati legislator, she said the department has initiated certain schemes for broomsticks. She, however, added that for its conversion to a large-scale industry, she said she would require notice.
Quoting the price of the broomsticks, Charles suggested the government to take steps for setting up skilled industries for producing broom sticks on a large-scale.
On his query on the role of marketing board in helping the farmers, the minister replied, “Marketing board has been already initiated and in the marketing board we have facilitated or have certain facilities for the farmers and it will primarily enable farmers to bring their produce to the marketing board, and we provide storage facilities. We have godowns, we also have auction and grading platforms located in Mawiong and certain produce are now being marketed and enabled through this platform.”
“Yes, we facilitate farmers but that is about it. We have not been able to ensure that all these marketing facilities have to be adequately marketed on behalf of the farmers,” she added.
On checking the deduction of the price of the farmers produce in the market, Ampareen said, “Yes, we are aware that there is a lot of manipulation of the weighing system. In the current situation, farmers are challenged to a large degree and we, as a government and department, have recommended certain weighing systems and have made it mandatory that it should be done through the correct weighing system. We are aware and trying to ensure that farmers are not cheated and they do not suffer losses due to the weighing mechanism that is currently being implemented in their own market.”
Congresss MLA from Umsning, Celestine Lyngdoh said that the MSP is not extended to the farmers and weighing is not just exploitation but open broad daylight looting of the farmers.
He suggested, “I request the Agriculture department, maybe in collaboration with the department of weights and measures, to introduce hotline numbers where farmers can report about their exploitation, which happens on a daily basis. Some sort of contact point where they can direct their grievances and report would be better.”
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also joined in the discussion to say, “We have to realise that the options of the farmers to sell their products are limited and that is where the exploitation takes place to some extent.”
He said after realising this limitation, the government, in the last five years, has been working towards having multiple options for the farmers and that is why the government has sanctioned almost 30-plus farmers’ markets in different locations which are run by the farmers’ association.
“We intend to have many more in different locations so that they have options to sell their products in these markets itself and minimum commission will be prescribed and they won’t be able to go beyond a certain percentage for the association to run,” he said.
The chief minister also said the government has also come with the number 1917 to help the farmers transport their produce.
Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem also raised a question about the welfare of the pineapple farmers, to which the Agriculture Minister replied, “Pineapple does have great potential in the state and in recent years, about 47 MT has already been sent to other states. Just for pineapple alone the trade value increased to 5,90,000 plus, which is an increase of price realisation of about 40-70 per cent as compared to the ordinary sale of pineapple for local usage.”
She also assured that the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that 75 per cent of the farmers in Meghalaya get ample opportunity to derive profit from their produce.
Mayralborn also requested the minister to set up and identify more cooperative societies, set up small processing units for pineapple, and facilitate coal storage run by the department.
UDP MLA Lahkmen Rymbui, on the other hand, drew the attention of the House to the challenges faced by the betel leaf growers to which Ampareen replied, “Betel leaf is perishable items and when it comes to the market added challenges to marketing the leaf, we are engaging extensively in areca nut. I am yet to take information from the department if betel leaves are also part of the produce and the point is relevant and taken note of.”
Meanwhile, NPP MLA from Kharkutta constituency Rupert Momin informed that his constituency is rich in the production of bananas but people have to travel and go elsewhere to sell their products.
He also asked if the government could come up with a market for the farmers to address the issue.