Shillong, April 23: The Farmers’ Front of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) has urged the Meghalaya government to review the pricing of broomstick, take immediate steps to control the spread of bud rot disease affecting arecanut plantations, and increase awareness of the CM ASSURE scheme among farmers.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, NPP spokesperson Himalaya M Shangpliang said, “The price of broomsticks has drastically gone down. As we understand from the farmers that the cost fixed by the government is a bit too low and therefore, in today’s meeting we have resolved to approach the government for reviewing the cost of broomstick and if possible, to enhance the amount. The price for grade I broomstick is fixed at Rs 55 per kg, grade-II at Rs 40 and grade-III at Rs 30.”

He further suggested that the existing 800 kg per farmer quota be revised upward to accommodate those producing 2,000–3,000 kg. “There are broomstick farmers, who are cultivating and even having more 2000-3000kgs with them. For them if they say it is a limit of only 800 kgs, the question is what do they do with the rest that is left behind. Therefore, we will approach the government and the department of Agriculture to review and reexamine if these things are possible,” he added.

The Farmers’ Front also raised alarm over the worsening bud rot disease affecting arecanut plantations, particularly in West and South West Khasi Hills. Shangpliang called on the agriculture and horticulture departments to investigate the spread and provide urgent assistance to farmers. “Apparently, the bud rot disease has not reduced. The bud rot disease has been increasing. And today, the farmers, who have come from West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi, have reported that there are more cases of bud rot diseases, which are killing the arecanut tree,” he said.

On the CM ASSURE scheme, aimed at supporting arecanut farmers, Shangpliang noted that many farmers remain unaware or are hesitant to register due to misinformation. At the same time, he said there is delay in registration of farmers under the scheme and the party has decided to request the authorities concerned in Agriculture or Horticulture to expedite the registration. He mentioned that the registration process is assisted by certain volunteers at the block level, who themselves are not aware about the scheme and therefore, further awareness is required at the block or grassroot or volunteer level.

As of April 21, 5,657 farmers had registered under CM ASSURE, of which only 4,182 were approved, with Rs. 5.82 crore released so far. The Farmers’ Front plans to engage directly with farmers to encourage greater participation in the scheme.

The NPP Farmers’ Front also informed that over 500 metric tons of fertilizers will be distributed to the farmers very soon. Shangpliang thanked Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong for intervening to expedite the release of 500 metric tons of fertilizer that had been held up in Dibrugarh due to pending clearances. The stock has now reached Khanapara, awaiting final sanction from the cooperative department.

He said the fertilizers not reaching the farmers since February has become a big concern to farmers, who are used to cultivation with the help of fertilizers. “We understand that organic farming is the trend of the day but our farmers, who are already conservative farmers, are yet to change their mindset from inorganic or the cultivation with the help of fertilizers to organic. It will take some time for this transition but till such time, we appeal to the government to continue to support our farmers by providing the assistance for fertilizers,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, the NPP Farmers’ Front has appointed district presidents in Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi districts and they have been given a month’s time to constitute the district and block committee.

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