SHILLONG, JUL Y 27: Farmers coming to sells their produces in Iewduh- the biggest traditional market in north east- are being exploited by traders as they make the farmers part with a kilo of their produces for every 10 kgs they sell to them.
This exploitation came to the fore after the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) on Saturday conducted an inspection of Iewduh and found out that farmers were made to part part with 1kg for every 10 kg of weight losing 10 kg for every 100 kg of their produces.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said the farmers have also complained that at Mawlonghat when they stop only for a few minutes to drop their vegetables they are made to pay Rs 50 as parking fee.
Expressing shock, Kharshiing said, “We were told on every 10 kg 1 kg was clearly deducted and for every 100 kg 10 kg was deducted and this has affected the farmer including public who have to buy the vegetables at inflated rate.
Stating that the reasons given for such deduction by some agents was that the basket weighed alone is about 5 kg which is an implausible, Kharshiing said even if the farmers brought their produces in a plastic sack weighing hardly 250 grams 10% was cut from the weight of the whole sack.
Kharshiing also revealed that she was informed by the farmers that some traders (wholesalers) would not pay the agreed rate in the evening to the farmers and would instead squeeze them by saying that there not much of demand for their produces and so price had gone down. She added many tomatoes were left to rot as the farmers could not take them back to their village.
Terming this as a clear exploitation by the traders, Kharshiing said, “The Syiem of Mylliem must immediately clamp down on such unscrupulous traders who are exploiting the farmers.” She also advised the farmers not to allow the deduction and warned that if such exploitation takes place she will file complains against the traders.
Kharshiing informed that there was a signboard by the Controller of Legal Metrology which clearly indicates that no one should weigh less, so the wholesalers were taking advantage by another means. She was of the opinion that the state government should arrange alternatives for farmers so that such exploitation is not allowed.
Kharshiing said, “Godowns should be arranged so that the farmers can store their produces and the Syiem too should look into the wellbeing of the people by stopping these illegal traders from exploiting the farmers at Iewduh.”
Kharshiing also suggested that the wholesalers should have the weighing done in their own godown so that exploitation is stopped and middlemen do not chance to be involved.- By Our Reporter
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