Ampati, May 16: In a significant step forward for agricultural development and economic sustainability in the region, the farmers of Dimiligre IVCS Ltd. in South West Garo Hills (SWGH) on Tuesday successfully shipped approximately 11 tons of local black pepper to a Mumbai-based company on Tuesday.

This ground-breaking trade was made possible through the support of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority’s MLAMP initiative, which has established sustainable marketing linkages for local producers in the state.

The trading event, the first of its kind in the district, was inaugurated by Dr. Digonto Hajong, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Zikzak C&RD Block, who extended his heartfelt congratulations to the farmers and wished them success in their future business endeavours.

Sundardas Rathansey Spices Pvt. Ltd., a reputed Mumbai-based company with expertise in trading black pepper for over 30 years, purchased a total of 200 packets of black pepper from Dimiligre IVCS Ltd. at the rate of Rs 450 per kilogram. Satish Dharamsey Pallicha, the Managing Director of the company, expressed his belief in the region’s tremendous potential for agricultural production and marketing, provided the farmers receive adequate financial support from banks.

Pallicha acknowledged the excellent quality of locally grown black pepper in the region and emphasized the importance of finding genuine buyers who are willing to pay fair prices to the farmers. However, he expressed his disappointment at being unable to purchase a larger quantity of black pepper, as some farmers had already sold their produce to neighbouring contractors who offered significantly lower prices in cash. These contractors often mix the good quality pepper with inferior ones and sell them in the market.

Pallicha also voiced his concerns about the multiple tax demands from various local groups along the highway, despite already paying GST and CGST. “How will the farmers benefit if we have to keep on paying taxes throughout the highway and if different groups keep on coming and asking for taxes as per their own wish,” he said.

Joshi Tuisum, Partnership Manager with MBMA/ IDH, said that it is difficult to get genuine buyer and contractors at buyers and sellers’ meet and it was only after much effort that he crossed paths with SD Pallicha.

The occasion also witnessed the presence of Kitmiller Sangma, District Development Manager of NABARD, WR Kharlukhi, Sub Registrar of the Cooperation Department, Sirbatswa Hajong, Joint Commissioner Officer (JCO) of Zikzak Circle, and officials and staff from MBMA and South West Garo Hills.

Dimiligre IVCS Ltd., being a registered society and FSSAI registered, has become a shining example for farmers across South West Garo Hills by engaging in agricultural trade with genuine buyers. This remarkable achievement is not only a testament to the hard work of the farmers in Dimiligre village but also the collective efforts of the Government of Meghalaya, the District Administration, MBMA, and various other sectors dedicated to uplifting the lives of these farmers.