KHADC to enforce Market Rules to protect farmers’ interests

SHILLONG, Jan 3: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is set to implement the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Establishment, Management and Control of Markets) (Second Amendment) Regulation, Act 2021, aimed at safeguarding the interests of farmers.
To facilitate this, the KHADC passed the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Establishment, Management and Control of Markets) Rules, 2024, during its summer session, paving the way for the Act’s enforcement.
Executive Member in charge of Markets, Grace Mary Kharpuri, explained that the new rules will restrict traders at Iewduh market from deducting the weight of agricultural produce brought in by farmers. Instead, it mandates that sacks be weighed separately, addressing a long-standing issue faced by farmers.
Stating that the KHADC expects full cooperation from vegetable traders to implement this Act, she stressed the importance of ensuring that farmers receive their rightful earnings without incurring any losses.
It is worth noting that the Governor had accorded assent to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Establishment, Management and Control of Markets) (Second Amendment) Regulation, Act 2021, on July 23, 2023.