MDA advisor calls for fresh policy on perishable crops
SHILLONG, July 25: The controversy surrounding cabbage farmers distributing their produce free of cost prompted former Agriculture Minister and MDA-II government Adviser Ampareen Lyngdoh on Saturday to seek accountability from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) over market practices.
Responding to questions on the recent crisis faced by cabbage farmers, Lyngdoh described the situation as “very unfortunate” and said multiple factors and different authorities were responsible for safeguarding the interests of farmers.
Stating that perishable crops require a different policy approach, Lyngdoh urged cultivators to avail themselves of government support schemes.
While refraining from speculating on the immediate causes behind the collapse in cabbage prices, Lyngdoh also drew attention to issues under the jurisdiction of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
She referred to recurring concerns relating to market gates and “odd kilo” practices, questioning what steps the KHADC was taking to ensure that farmers were not forced to give away their produce without any return.
“I would like to ask them what they are doing to ensure that farmers are not seen giving away their produce free of cost to citizens. These are important concerns,” she said.
The MLA said she sympathised with farmers who had been compelled to distribute their produce free of cost but added that she was not in a position to comment on the specific reasons that led to the situation.
Lyngdoh said she was aware that the government was making efforts to put in place various layers of protection for the farming community. However, she observed that perishable agricultural commodities continue to pose a major challenge as their nature makes it difficult to evolve mechanisms that adequately cover farmers’ production costs.
Stating that she did not wish to comment further without full knowledge of the circumstances, Lyngdoh nevertheless conveyed her solidarity with the affected farmers and acknowledged the losses they had suffered.
She then urged farmers to take advantage of the various welfare schemes introduced by the MDA government, asserting that no previous government had introduced a comparable range of protective measures and support programmes aimed at safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods.
Expressing confidence in the state leadership, Lyngdoh said she believed the Agriculture Minister, in coordination with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, was already addressing the issue.
She, however, maintained that the recurring crisis involving perishable produce demanded fresh policy thinking and long-term solutions beyond existing interventions.
Lyngdoh concluded by reiterating that she did not have complete information on the factors that triggered the crisis but expressed regret that farmers had been pushed into such a situation, as she stressed the need for coordinated efforts to prevent similar incidents in the future.
