SHILLONG, Oct 8 - Meghalaya Agriculture Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh today directed the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and also the traditional chief of Mylliem to take action against middlemen taking advantage of farmers.
After launching the Meghalaya Farmers� Portal (www.megfarmers.gov.in) here and interacting with the farmers the Minister took the decision. He said many of the farmers have complained that they were not getting the right price for their produce.
�They say that middlemen at Iewduh (Bara Bazaar) have been exploiting them and not giving them the requisite price for their produce. So I have asked the Deputy Commissioner to take action,� he stated.
The Minister further asked the traditional chief of Mylliem, under whose jurisdiction the wholesale vegetable market falls to take action and see that the interest of the farmers are protected.
�If necessary, I will personally visit the market and see that the middlemen are weeded out of the system,� Lyngdoh said.
Earlier, launching the portal, Lyngdoh said the portal will directly connect farmers to the Agriculture department and hoped that the information provided in the portal will prove to be beneficial to the farmers of the State.
Reiterating that the Government is continuously working to improve the condition of framers, Lyngdoh informed that the department is seriously working towards an Agriculture Policy and also fixing Minimum Support Prices for farmer�s produce so that they are not exploited.
The Farmers Portal of the Agriculture Department is a platform for farmers to seek any information related to agriculture. Detailed information on farmers insurance, agricultural storage, crops, extension activities, seeds, pesticides, farm machineries, etc., is provided. Details of fertilisers, market prices, package and practices, welfare schemes, etc., would also be available through the portal.