Help NE farmers get access to mainland: Ampareen to Centre

SHILLONG, Jan 5: Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh requested the Centre to provide subsidies in logistics to help farmers in the Northeast gain access to markets beyond the region.
“Our farmers are not able to sell their products in mainland markets because of high logistical costs. Therefore, it will be helpful if there is the Centre helps in creating market linkages,” she said during a video conference with Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday.
She also sought the Centre’s assistance in creating an Indigenous Crop Conservation Fund to help provide financial and technical support to preserve and promote indigenous varieties of crops such as Khasi Mandarin, black sticky rice, and Lakadong turmeric.
Lyngdoh also requested the establishment of a High-Altitude Farming Innovation Centre as a research and training hub for developing techniques suitable for Meghalaya’s hilly terrain.
Suggesting the need to develop custom fertiliser blends for acidic soil, she stressed the development and distribution of Meghalaya-specific fertiliser formulations to address soil acidity and enhance crop productivity.
Referring to the Forest-Farming Integration Policy, Lyngdoh advocated a pilot project integrating forestry and agriculture to promote agro-forestry and mitigate land degradation in shifting cultivation areas.
She also batted for the creation of designated zones for climate-resilient farming practices with a focus on high-value horticultural crops and adaptive technologies.
Suggesting a livestock programme for marginalised farmers, she advised funding for providing small ruminants such as goats and pigs to marginal farmers to diversify their income sources.
She also suggested export infrastructure for niche products and a Meghalaya-centric digi-agri stack system to suit the state’s unique administrative setup, focusing on landholding patterns, community ownership models, and localised decision-making.
Chouhan held discussions on reforms in the agriculture sector with agriculture and horticulture ministers across the country.