Shillong: Meghalaya farmers are facing a brutal market slump. Cabbage prices have cratered to just Rs 2 per kilogram, while radish is fetching similarly dismal returns. The National People’s Party Farmers’ Unit launched an investigation into the crisis. They met with local growers and traders in Iewduh to find answers.
Cheap produce from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland is flooding markets in West Bengal, specifically Siliguri. Buyers prefer these cheaper options over Meghalaya goods. Meanwhile, Lower Assam is now producing enough vegetables to meet its own needs. This leaves Meghalaya farmers with few places to sell.
Egenstar Kurkalang, general secretary of the NPP Farmers’ Front, confirmed the grim reality after speaking with traders. "The traders told us that the demand from outside the state has declined. Buyers are getting vegetables at better prices from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, while Lower Assam is relying on its own produce. This has directly affected the prices received by farmers in Meghalaya," Kurkalang stated.
Chairman H.M. Shangpliang and Kurkalang are pushing for government action. They want new markets built along border areas. They also want alternative sales channels to prevent the mass dumping of crops. Farmers have been forced to throw away food before when buyers vanished. The NPP is currently working with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to draft long-term fixes. Potential ideas include expanding national marketing networks and boosting international exports to fix the broken system.
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