Implement crop insurance scheme: JACAMFU to government

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Mar 8: The Joint Action Committee of All Meghalaya Farmer’s Union (JACAMFU) of the State has reiterated its demands that the state government should immediately implement crop insurance scheme and to come up with an agricultural policy.

“We want the government to increase the fincial assistance towards farmers during times of tural calamities and we are puzzled as to why the crop insurance scheme has yet to be implemented in the state,” JACAMFU chairman C. Shangplian told reporters here on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the government needs to come up with an Agricultural Policy to save the farmers from various setbacks and address the issues related to farmers and agricultural development in the state.

The Farmers Union has also demanded that the state government should recognize the broom grass and bay leaf as an agricultural product.

“We also want the government to come up with a minimum support prices for the goods produces by the local farmers because at present the farmers are being pushed when bartering with traders form outside,” he said.

On the governments discontinuing of sale of chemical fertilizers and pesticide to the farmers of the state, Shangplian said, “We are not against the move of the government of introducing organic manure instead of the existing fertilizer, but this sudden introduction of the organic manure cannot be accepted because it has put the lives of about 80 percent farmers in an insecure state.”