Shillong, Feb 28: The February edition of the monthly farmers’ market began today at the parking lot of the Directorate of Fisheries, opposite St. Edmund’s College in Risa Colony.
Organised by 1917 iTEAMS under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and supported by the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission (MFEC), the initiative aims to provide farmers with a direct, transparent farm-to-consumer platform, ensuring better price realisation and stronger rural-urban market linkages.
The first edition of the market featured winter crops such as oranges and pumpkins. This month, the market spotlighted fresh strawberries and premium black pepper, alongside a diverse range of locally cultivated produce from multiple districts.
The initiative continues to provide farmers with direct, transparent access to buyers and consumers, enabling better price realisation and eliminating middlemen.
Meghalaya currently produces around 1,200 metric tonnes of strawberries annually, with cultivation expanded to over 250 villages and benefiting more than 4,000 growers. In black pepper, the State produces approximately 2,000 metric tonnes across 2,083 hectares, supporting over 2,600 farmers.
The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK) members trained at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Shillong demonstrated a live kitchen where visitors enjoyed farm-to-plate experience by having value-added dishes made by strawberries and black pepper, with live music performances by Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Program (CM-MGMP) artists.
In addition to the record footfall of walk-in customers, the presence of SOMOI online delivery app, in partnership with the government, expanded the market’s reach, ensuring that farmers maximize their revenue. SOMOI, a local homegrown quick-commerce app, procures produce in bulk directly from the farmers, empowering the farmers financially.
