Vegetable price crashes in Meghalaya
Shillong, July 16: The Hill Farmers’ Union gave away free cabbage to the public on Thursday in protest against the steep fall in prices of agricultural produce.
With a banner that read “Free distribution of cabbage to the public… But the time will come when we may have to give up farming because it has become too difficult to farm,” the HFU sought to highlight farmers’ distress.
HFU president Commander Shangpliang said cabbage is now selling at just Rs 2 per kg, far below production cost.
“When prices fall this low, selling is meaningless. This is our way of showing the government and public how farmers are suffering,” he said.
The union demanded that the government form a committee to calculate input costs.
Shangpliang said if production cost is Rs 10 per kg, cabbage should be sold at a minimum of Rs 11 to give farmers at least Re 1 profit.
HFU also called for a Market Intervention Scheme for all agricultural produce.
Citing the previous scheme for broomsticks, he said the government should compensate farmers for the gap between cost and market price.
“If cost is Rs 10 and market rate is Rs 2, the government should pay Rs 8 to prevent losses,” he added.
Shangpliang noted that many farmers are struggling to meet basic expenses, including school fees, amid the crisis.
“Farmers have families and children to support. Most of them are finding it extremely difficult to even feed their own families,” he said.
The HFU urged the government to act quickly to ensure remunerative and sustainable prices for farmers.
