Chayote price has crashed to rock-bottom levels, bringing misery farmers of South West Khasi Hills who were hoping for a bumper yield after suffering huge losses during the pandemic.
Hills Farmer Union general secretary of Mawkyrwat block, Rymphai Kharkongor told that though farmers have had a bumper harvest this year but that has not brought them good prices. He said in July last year the price of chayote was about 30-35 rupees per kg and in the same month this year, the price has fallen to about 10, eight and nine rupees.
Farmers, who had invested heavily on chayote, are shattered as they are forced to sell at throwaway prices of Rs 2 per kg. They rue that the price would not even fetch for bamboos, used to set a trellis for support. They said a bamboo is priced at 60-70 rupees and those who have huge cultivation areas in acres are worried.
The 1917iTeams, an initiative of the State government has been providing agri transport and market connect services to the farmers. Ferdinand Lyngkhoi, a driver with the team said in July last year, about 10-12 trips are made to transport the produce but this year it went down to about four.
He said in areas like Shilliangum and other villages of Mawthawpdah and Laitlawsnai production of chayote has gone down.
Meanwhile, the farmers of Shilliangum have urged HFU to raise their problems with the State government.
