By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 24: In a major step towards strengthening farmers’ incomes and promoting direct farm-to-consumer linkages, the State’s Monthly Farmers’ Market was organised on Saturday at the parking area of the Directorate of Fisheries, opposite St. Edmund’s College, Shillong.
The initiative is being organised by 1917 iTEAMS under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, with support from the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission (MEFC). The market aims to provide farmers with a dedicated platform to sell their produce directly to consumers, reduce dependence on intermediaries and ensure fair returns for agricultural produce.
The first edition of the Monthly Farmers’ Market focused on oranges and pumpkins as seasonal crops, showcasing Meghalaya’s winter harvest and enabling farmers to bring fresh produce directly from farms to urban consumers.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission, PS Thangkhiew, said the concept of a monthly Farmers’ Market emerged from discussions with the Agriculture department on improving market access for rural vendors—an issue that became particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He stressed that the initiative must retain its farmer-centric approach and welcomed the involvement of platforms such as SOMOI to strengthen market linkages. A key attraction of the market was a live kitchen operated by members of a Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK), who were trained at the Institute of Hotel Management, Shillong. The live kitchen showcased a range of value-added dishes prepared from oranges and pumpkins, offering visitors a unique farm-to-plate experience using locally sourced ingredients.
Farmers participating in the market expressed satisfaction over the strong response from buyers.
A woman farmer from the Pynursla block said the market witnessed a large turnout of consumers and provided direct access to organic produce. She added that such initiatives would greatly benefit farmers by giving them better opportunities to sell their produce without intermediaries.
Programme Manager of 1917 iTEAMS, Gavin C. Shullai, said the Chairman of the Farmers’ Commission had suggested utilising government parking areas, which usually remain vacant, as market spaces. He noted that such an arrangement benefits both farmers and consumers by creating accessible, well-located markets in urban areas.
SOMOI, a homegrown quick-commerce app based in Shillong, has partnered with the Farmers’ Market initiative to procure produce directly from farmers, thereby strengthening local supply chains and supporting farm-based livelihoods.
Aligned with the vision of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to make agriculture a sustainable and dignified livelihood for every farmer in Meghalaya, the Monthly Farmers’ Market is envisaged as a strategic initiative to empower farmers, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen sustainable local economic development.
Each edition of the market will feature two to three seasonal crops aligned with local harvest cycles. In addition to fresh produce, the platform will support local entrepreneurs engaged in agri-based, value-added and artisanal products. The initiative also promotes the consumption of fresh, local and healthy food while strengthening urban–rural market linkages across Meghalaya.
In the long term, the state government aims to integrate the Monthly Farmers’ Market into the Meghalaya State Tourism Calendar, positioning Shillong as a regular farm-to-table destination and an emerging agri-tourism hub.
