SHILONG:
The Hill Farmers’ Union (HFU) has asked Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh to come out with an agriculture policy to benefit the farmers while pointing out that the state government’s move to shift to organic farming and do away with chemical fertilizers is also posing a problem.
The HFU has submitted a memorandum to the minister listing its grievances. The union stated that the government has not made any arrangement for organic seeds and organic fertilisers. “If the government fails to provide organic seeds and organic fertilisers, then it should arrange chemical fertilisers for tomatoes and potatoes,” the union said.
It also said that farmers are not getting assistance to procure seeds, fertilisers, irrigation facilities, and that they have been told time and again that the department of agriculture and its allied sectors are facing fund constraints.
“The farmers will get the materials at a subsidised rate if they get from the department,” the HFU said.
In this connection, the union has asked the agriculture minister to discuss with the chief minister, who is also in charge of Finance department, to increase the budget for the Agriculture department.
With the department facing dearth of officers, the union has requested the minister to intervene with regard to filling up of vacant posts.
The union informed that there are 83 posts for which the personal interview is done and what remains is the declaration of results. It has also called for the implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Referring to the falling prices of ginger, the union said that the government should implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).