Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has said that reduction in weight of agriculture produce and practices that will impact farmers will not be tolerated.
Lyngdoh who chaired a meeting with different farmers’ and traders’ groups and associations convened by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare yesterday said that she has received several complaints and grievances on the matter.
She informed that committees both at the state and district levels are being constituted for monitoring the markets to ensure that any illegal practices negatively affecting the farmers will be checked. These committees will also look into any other matter concerning the welfare of farmers and traders and make suitable recommendations to the department.
A committee for Ïewduh market, the biggest traditional market in the State, is also in the process of preparing a DPR for infrastructure improvement in the market, with the support of the concerned departments, she said.
With regards to the State Agriculture Policy she informed that the government is cognizance of the need to have a comprehensive Agriculture Policy that is consistent with socio-economic and ecological condition of the State. The skeletal framework is in place and shall be placed in public domain in due course for suggestions and comments, she added.
At the meeting the groups raised issues related to timely distribution of agricultural seeds and inputs, fertilizer availability, expanding benefits under PM-KISSAN and PM-FBY, amongst others, for which detailed discussion was held, and information was shared with the farmers on the steps taken by the department.
The Minister stressed on the need for proper dissemination of information to the farmers on the different schemes and programmes of the government that will be beneficial to them, and also directed that such meetings at the district level may also be convened so that there is prompt redressal of all issues being faced by farmers.
In reply to queries with respect to provision of incentives to educate youth and provide training in the agriculture sector, it was informed that the department through the office of the Principal Basic Agricultural Centre implements a scheme, Training of rural educated youth for self employment in farm-based activities (TREYSEFA)” and through the Meghalaya State Skills Development Society a number of training partners have been onboard for training in integrated farming and agri and allied activities.
