Meghalaya tightens control over fertilizer circulation and support for farmers
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Timothy D. Shira informed the State Legislative Assembly about the adoption of strict measures to ensure the sale of fertilizer at government-fixed prices. To curb illegal resale and unreasonable hoarding, retail outlets have been mandated to display current prices and daily stock levels. Sales monitoring is carried out through the Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS) using payment terminals, which allows for transaction tracking. The state has deployed 129 inspectors who conduct weekly inspections of vendor activities.
The reason for the increased oversight was complaints regarding the sale of single super phosphate (SSP) fertilizer at a price of about 900 rupees per bag, whereas the approved government rate is about 800 rupees. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma emphasized that investigations are underway regarding instances of overpricing, and the licenses of violators may be revoked. As part of the campaign, approximately 1,432 surprise inspections have already been conducted.
In parallel, the government is pursuing a policy of gradual transition to organic farming by introducing bio-fertilizers. Authorities note that a sudden abandonment of chemical preparations could negatively affect production and farmers' incomes, so the process is being carried out in phases.
Problems regarding the marketing of produce were also discussed. To ensure fair prices, the government is developing processing facilities: enterprises for processing spices and turmeric have been established in the Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi regions. According to Timothy D. Shira, this has allowed the purchase price of raw turmeric to increase from 12 to 40–50 rupees per kilogram. The issue of constructing cold storage facilities for vegetable storage is being considered. Authorities also responded to the situation with low cabbage prices in Shillong, after which the value of the produce stabilized. Conrad K. Sangma noted that price fluctuations for vegetables are driven by market factors of supply and demand, pointing to the historically established dynamic of a decrease in cabbage prices in July followed by an increase in August and September.