North Garo Hills banana farmers ship first bulk load to Patna

Shillong: Thirty-five farmers from North Garo Hills just sent 15 metric tonnes of raw bananas to a bulk buyer in Patna. This shipment marks a major break from small, local trading. The group shipped the produce to Himalayan Traders in Patna, acting through the DjakoAgro Producer Company Limited with backup from the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency.

The move uses a farmer-aggregator-bulk buyer model. It aims to cut out distress sales and give growers more clout. DjakoAgro managed the collection, grouping, and transport for the load. The pilot project serves a specific purpose. It helps check banana maturity, grading, packaging, and buyer demand. Officials say the "organised market channel could help reduce distress sales during peak harvesting periods" while opening doors to more buyers.

Better information on price trends will now help these farmers plan their harvests. The long-term goal is to build a stronger supply chain. They want to move beyond Meghalaya to reach massive consumption centers nationwide. Feedback from this first run will set the standard for future shipments.