SHILLONG, MAY 15: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), through its Socio-Economics Reform Movement, has urged Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai to urgently address challenges facing pig and poultry farmers in Meghalaya, citing market losses, disease outbreaks, and lack of state support.
In a memorandum to the minister, FKJGP President Dundee Cliff Khongsit said the organisation’s outreach had found farmers struggling across the state. “Through the journey of the FKJGP and its Socio-Economics Reform Movement, which aims to uplift and awaken our fellow citizens involved in livestock farming, we have frequently observed that farmers are facing numerous challenges in their professions,” the letter stated.
Listing market competition as the top concern, the FKJGP said local producers were unable to compete with cheaper imports. “Market accession for the local pig and poultry farmers is the most challenging part of farmers profession. Pigs and poultry produced from our state cannot be sold at a profitable price, because of the easy access of pigs from the outside of the state at a lower rate in comparison to the pigs produced from the state,” Khongsit wrote.
He demanded a policy to regulate entry of livestock. “The association demands a policy to cross check the free entry of these animals from other parts of the country into our state, otherwise the local farmers will suffer more and more and may not progress in their activities.”
The group linked recent outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and poultry deaths to unregulated imports. “The spread of African Swine Fever for pigs and the death of the poultry in the state recently is due to the incoming of animals from the plain belts of our country. Presently there is no quarantine and isolation centres to cross check these animals which come into our state,” the memorandum said. It added that the lack of checks had led to “a great loss to our local farmers. And the farmers are negatively impact and demotivated and become bankrupt and cannot pay his loan.” FKJGP also criticised the department’s training programmes for lacking follow-up.
“The government and the department in particular give numerous of training to the farmers in different districts and blocks, but it is observed that these training often end up in a mere training only. The department does not follow up the progress of the farmers and thus the end result is almost a waste of effort both for the government and for the farmers who participated the training,” Khongsit said.
He added that farmers receive “almost no help from the department like medicines” during medical emergencies. On pricing and market access, the memorandum noted, “The government does not give a MSP (Minimum Supporting Price) for the farmers which is profitable and guaranteed and there is no organized market for the sale of the meat produced. At present there is only one active place as a modernized pig slaughter centre which is the Modern Multi-Species Abattoir in Mawlai Mawiong.” The FKJGP expressed hope that the minister would act swiftly. “In light of the problems faced by our local farmers, we hope and strongly believed that the government especially your ministry through you sir, as the Minister In charge of the Veterinary Department, shall take these issues as a serious matter and may be a blessing for the local farmers working hard across the length and breadth of the state,” the letter stated. “Your eagerness and prompt action shall remain grateful and remembered by us,” Khongsit concluded.
By Our Reporter
