Cabbage farmers in Meghalaya are deeply distressed after seeing the price for their crop drop markedly to just Rs 7 per kilogramme.
This reflects the price that middlemen, known as dalals, are willing to pay, not the price that consumers will have to pay in the market.
Addressing reporters today, a farmer from Jongksha village, Meli Kharsahnoh, said that agriculturists fear being ruined by the sudden drop in price as their crops are ready to be harvested.
Kharsahnoh said that cabbage is usually sold at Rs 35-40 per kg and that farmers will face starvation at the current rates after bearing the cost of labour, manure, transportation, etc.
“I have come here (to Shillong) to make my voice heard to the state government and authorities concerned, hoping they will make ways and means to help us to sell our cabbage at a reasonable price, either here or outside the state,” she said.
Jongksha, interestingly, falls under Mawkynrew constituency, the seat of Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.
“I want the government to treat this as an emergency and find a solution because our cabbage will spoil if left on the farm for another week,” Kharsahnoh added.
According to her, the price was fine until June but now middlemen and their agents say that there is not enough demand to support higher prices for cabbage.
“All I want is for the government to find a solution and help the poor farmers of the region,” Kharsahnoh said.
