SHILLONG: During the lockdown and curfew, home-delivery of vegetables and milk is successfully being carried out by Na Ri, an initiative of East Khasi Hills District Cooperative Milk Union Limited (Shillong Milk Union).
LS Shangpliang, Managing Director of Shillong Milk Union said that though primarily, Na Ri was launched for home-delivery of milk products, the East Khasi Hills District Administration has roped in Na Ri to supply vegetables to the needy during the current crisis.
On Thursday, at the procurement centre at Mawiong, several people were engaged in segregating vegetables to be transported to various places.
Shangpliang said vegetables from Ri Bhoi were brought by the farmers to the procurement centre and they will be marketed by Na Ri. The vegetables include peas, beans, cucumbers, cabbages, carrots and cauliflower among others.
“We plan to provide Rs 314 per day to the people which is a minimum wage for those who help in segregating the vegetables before transportation,” he said.
The initiative is supported by “1917iTEAMS” to help the farmers so that their produce does not go to waste.
The “1917iTEAMS” is an initiative of the state government and it helps in procuring farm produces from the farmers and makes it available to consumers in different parts of the state.
1917 is a toll free number whereby the farmers can get access to the team of professionals, who will provide linkages so that the farmers can sell their products to the buyers.
BK Sohliya, the director of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship and member secretary of 1917, said that 24,000 farmers have been roped in by the initiative of the government.
“Our task is to link the buyers to the farmers and Na Ri is a buyer of produces from the farmers facilitated by 1917,” Sohliya said.
