By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 1: The Executive Committee (EC) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), led by the Voice of the People Party (VPP), visited Iewduh wholesale market on Friday to assess the challenges faced by local farmers, particularly the persistent issue of weight deductions on their agricultural produce.
The visit comes in the wake of the 2021 introduction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Establishment, Management & Control of Markets) (2nd Amendment) Regulation Act, which empowers the KHADC to fix the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and prohibits traders from deducting weight from farmers’ goods. However, the implementation of this Act has been stalled as the rules are still awaiting approval from the District Council Affairs (DCA) department and the Governor’s assent.
To better understand the ongoing problems, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Shemborlang Rynjah, Council Chairman Strong Pillar Kharjana, Executive Members and officials interacted with farmers in the wholesale sections dealing in tomatoes, cabbages, carrots and ginger.
During the interaction, farmers expressed frustration over traders deducting weight for allegedly damaged or spoiled goods, even when the produce is fresh. They also alleged that such deductions are applied only to local produce, while goods imported from outside the state are spared.
“This clearly reflects bias and shows how non-tribal traders dominating the market are exploiting local farmers,” said one of the farmers.
Speaking to reporters, KHADC CEM Shemborlang Rynjah said the visit was aimed at directly hearing the grievances of the farmers, especially regarding the issue of weight deductions. He informed that a meeting with farmers’ unions would soon be convened to discuss the matter in detail.
“We need a thorough understanding of the issue before deciding on the next steps,” he stated.
KHADC EC spokesperson Powell Sohkhlet acknowledged the complexity of the matter, noting that while some mutual understanding exists between farmers and traders, there are also instances of unfair deductions causing substantial losses to farmers.
He admitted that completely eliminating weight deductions in Iewduh may not be feasible, but stressed the Council’s commitment to protecting local farmers.
“We will do everything possible to ensure local farmers are not exploited by non-tribal vegetable traders,” Sohkhlet added.