Shillong: Objection to deduction of agricultural produce

Shillong Bureau

SHILLONG: Many local farmers have expressed their grievances and objection on ‘unwarranted’ deduction of agricultural produce by buyers during a joint inspection conducted today at Iewduh market by the Hima Millyiem, KHADC and Minister of Agriculture Banteidor Lyngdoh.

Meanwhile, Lyngdoh said that he wants the confronting issues pertaining to the farmers and the vegetable dealers at Iewduh market, Shillong to be resolved once and for all. For so long, the farmers have been complaining about how the dealers have been manipulating in terms of weighing the vegetables. The complaint is on the cut per basket or the sack stuffed with ferried vegetables that reach a phenomenal weight of 10-15 kgs.

This usual trend is noticeable in Iewduh where the Government authorities have no say on it due to its tradition related to the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution. The Minister arrived at the market to have a first-hand experience of the alleged exploiters and the exploited.

He did feel the pulse of the aggrieved people on both sides maintained that his intervention is to ensure that the farmers should not be the scapegoats of the bargaining dealers. “I have suggested to the Syiem (Chief) of Mylliem that the weighing process should be clearly monitored”. Categorically stating that the KHADC and the Syiem of Hima Myilliem are the authorities in dealing with the problems of the exploiters and the exploited in the domain which is beyond his ambit, The Agriculture Minister also said, “I have advised and suggested to the Syiem (Chief) of Mylliem to address this issue because it also pertains to the farming communities.”

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