SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has taken cognizance of complaints by farmers about the weight reduction of their agricultural products.
The Minister informed that several complaints and grievances on this matter have been brought to her attention, and she said that such practices that adversely impact farmers will not be tolerated.
“Committees both at the state and district level are being constituted for monitoring the markets to ensure that any illegal practices negatively affecting the farmers will be checked,” the government stated.
These committees will also look into any other matter concerning the welfare of farmers and traders and make suitable recommendations to the department.
The issue of reducing the weight of agricultural produce is being practised across the state.
Lyngdoh also informed that a committee for Iewduh Market, the biggest traditional market in the state, is also in the process of preparing a Detailed Project Report for infrastructure improvement in the market with the support of the concerned departments.
This grievance was brought before the Agriculture Minister during a meeting with different farmers’ and traders’ groups and associations that was convened by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare under the chairmanship of the Lyngdoh on July 10, 2023.
The meeting was called by the Minister to address a number of issues and concerns raised by farmers from time to time and to highlight some of the initiatives taken by the department in the interest of farmers.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials of the Department.
With regards to the State Agriculture policy, the Minister informed me that the government recognises the need to have a comprehensive Agriculture Policy that is consistent with the socio-economic and ecological conditions of the state.
“The skeletal framework is in place and shall be placed in the public domain in due course for suggestions and comments,” she said.
At the meeting, a few of the issues raised by the groups related to the timely distribution of agricultural seeds and inputs, fertiliser availability, and expanding benefits under PM-KISSAN and PM-FBY, amongst others, for which a detailed discussion was held, and information was shared with the farmers on the steps taken by the department.
The Minister stressed the need for proper dissemination of information to the farmers on the different schemes and programmes of the government that will be beneficial to them and directed that such meetings at the district level may also be convened so that there is prompt redressal of all issues being faced by farmers.
In reply to queries with respect to the provision of incentives to educate youth and provide training in the agriculture sector, it was informed that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, through the office of the Principal Basic Agricultural Centre, implements a scheme called “Training of Rural Educated Youth for Self-Employment in Farm-Based Activities (TREYSEFA)”.
TREYSEFA is an on-campus training programme conducted by the office of the Principal, Basic Agricultural Training Centre, Upper Shillong, consisting of both classroom lectures and practical hands-on training, field demonstrations, field or exposure visits, economic potentiality, post-harvest technology, market linkages, planning, finance, and investment, and overall management for sustainable livelihood and entrepreneurship.
Similarly, through the Meghalaya State Skills Development Society, a number of training partners have been onboarded for training in integrated farming, agribusiness, and allied activities.