Shillong, Jul 22: Amid reports of farmers in Meghalaya being forced to sell cabbages for as little as Rs 2 per kilo, Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary Manuel Badwar today blamed the recurring crisis on the government’s lack of long-term agricultural planning and an inefficient supply chain.
Speaking to reporters, Badwar said the crash in vegetable prices is not a new phenomenon but a recurring problem that continues to hurt farmers year after year.
According to him, the government already possesses sufficient data through the Agriculture Department to anticipate production trends well before the harvest season. He argued that authorities should use this information to forecast crop production, assess the acreage under cultivation and estimate supply months in advance, allowing them to plan marketing and distribution accordingly.
“The low prices are only a symptom. The real problem lies elsewhere,” Badwar said, adding that proper planning could help prevent situations where excessive production floods the market and drives prices below the cost of cultivation.
He also pointed to a common pattern among farmers, where many switch to cultivating crops that fetched higher prices in the previous season. This often results in an oversupply of the same crop the following year, leading to another price crash.
Badwar said the Agriculture Department should engage with farmers regularly and advise them on crop diversification and production planning instead of allowing market trends alone to dictate cultivation patterns.
He questioned why the government had failed to implement such measures despite agriculture remaining the primary source of livelihood for a majority of the state’s population and contributing significantly to Meghalaya’s economy.
“The data is already available with the department. What is lacking is the political will to put it together and develop a proper plan,” he said.
Referring to the state government’s efforts to promote Meghalaya pineapples through events such as the Pineapple Festival, Badwar said branding alone would not improve farmers’ incomes unless it was backed by an efficient supply chain and marketing network.
He said Meghalaya’s pineapples are known for their sweetness and quality but also have a relatively short shelf life, making timely transportation and distribution critical.
“There is no point in telling people that Meghalaya has the best pineapples if consumers across the country cannot easily buy them,” he said.
According to Badwar, the state’s biggest weakness is its value chain and supply chain management, which leaves many farmers struggling to sell their produce even during peak harvest seasons.
He said the government should prioritise strengthening storage facilities, transportation and distribution networks to ensure produce reaches markets quickly before it deteriorates.
Badwar also called for greater investment in food processing, saying value addition through canning and processing could significantly increase farmers’ earnings. He recalled that Meghalaya once had a government-run food processing unit that served as a model for producing processed food products, including canned pineapples, and said similar initiatives should now be expanded with private sector participation.
He cited pineapple canning as an example of value addition that could substantially increase the market value of the fruit while reducing post-harvest losses.
The Congress leader further said Meghalaya’s produce should not only reach major cities but also be widely available across domestic and international markets through a stronger distribution network.
Expressing hope that the government would address the issue, Badwar urged the state to focus on strengthening supply chain management, marketing infrastructure and value addition, saying these measures were essential to improve returns for farmers and prevent recurring agricultural crises.
NPP agri front holds talks over prices
The National People’s Party (NPP) Farmers’ Front held a consultation with vegetable traders today to address the sudden crash in prices of agricultural produce, including cabbages, that has left farmers in distress.
Addressing a press conference in Shillong, NPP Farmers’ Front general secretary Egenstar Kurkalang said the meeting was chaired by government adviser Himalaya Shangpliang. The aim was to identify the real causes behind the sharp decline in prices across Meghalaya.
Kurkalang said the front had earlier met with farmers and the Chief Minister, who directed them to find immediate solutions.
He pointed to two major reasons for the slump. First, a massive surge in production and surplus supply from neighboring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, being sold at cheaper rates in markets such as Upper Assam, Siliguri and West Bengal. Second, key buyers like Silchar and Tripura are already saturated, with local produce and existing Meghalaya supplies leaving no room for more.
“This is not the first time farmers are facing this hardship. In the past too, farmers had to throw away their vegetables due to zero buyers,” Kurkalang said, adding that they will propose that the government set up additional border and local markets so farmers can get better prices and secure stable exports.
He also encouraged educated farmers to start small processing units to add value to produce and prevent distress sales.
