Shillong, June 13: Meghalaya’s Farmers’ Market has successfully entered into its sixth edition today, drawing consumers who are eager to buy traditional, and locally grown vegetables. The event has become popular with farmers who are promoting their organic produce, customers seeking fresh and nutritious produce, as well as promote local entrepreneurs showcasing their products.
The sixth edition of the Farmers’ Market celebrated the farmers’ abundant harvest of tomatoes, pineapples, radishes, and many more.
The market reflects the vision of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma to strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and create opportunities in the agricultural sector, promote natural farming, and to give space for an interaction between farmers and consumers directly without middlemen.
The Farmers’ Market is being organised by 1917 iTEAMS under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, with support from the Meghalaya Farmers’ (Empowerment) Commission. The initiative provides ample opportunities for residents, and tourists alike to explore the State’s produce.Shri Gavin C. Shullai, Programme Manager, 1917iTEAMS, “At every instance, there would be around close to 20 farmers, which means more than 100 farmers from the first to the sixth edition.”
He shared that the Farmers’ Market has introduced a Shillong-based entrepreneur selling ice-cream and a bouncy castle for the children, since children often tag along with their parents to the market.Shri Prin Ronghang, Chairman of Umwang Pyllun IVCS, Ri-Bhoi District shared that through the support of MBMA, the farmers began cultivating Mauritius, a new pineapple variety brought from outside the state. The State currently cultivates varieties of Kew and Queen Pineapples. These varieties (Mauritius) are sold here so that other farmers could learn about them.
Expressing gratitude to the 1917iTEAMS for giving them the opportunity to participate in the Farmers’ Market, he said, “Our hope is that our journey does not stop here, but that our produce would eventually reach markets outside the state. We should not only depend on government jobs. The message to other farmers is that agriculture can sustain our livelihoods.”
Speaking about the new varieties of pineapples, he said that the Mauritius pineapple has a longer shelf life compared to other pineapples grown here, which contain more water and often get spoiled within 3-4 days, which makes transportation outside the state difficult.
According to him, the farmers need to increase production, since companies require produce in thousands of metric tonnes.
He added, “We expect more support from government, so that more people will be inspired to take up farming.”Smt Thirdamery from Jongksha, East Khasi Hills said her participation at the Farmers’ Market is to promote and sell their farm produce.”
She shared, “Some of the vegetables are sold directly in the market, while others are marketed through middlemen. We are thankful for the opportunity to showcase and sell our produce here. These produce are organically grown. We look forward to reaching more customers and sell our harvest.”
A regular customer at the market said he trusts the products sold at the market. Also, he observed that the market is an opportunity for the consumers to interact with the farmers and hear their stories firsthand.
Shillong-based hyperlocal quick-commerce platform SOMOI partnered with the government initiative to deliver products directly from the market to households across the city, helping farmers expand their customer base beyond footfall at the venue.
The response towards SOMOI has been growing steadily with every edition, generating employment opportunities for local youth working as delivery personnel.Star varieties of fruits grown organically featured in the past five editions were Khasi mandarin oranges, lychees, bananas and strawberries.
