Govt asked to consider broomstick as agriculture produce

SHILLONG, APR 18: The state government was on Wednesday asked to consider the three crops – broomsticks, bay leaf and wild pepper as agriculture produces which will to a great extent help the farmers in the state.

Moving a motion in the Assembly here, Congress MLA from Mawsynram Himalaya M Shangpliang said it is the need of the hour that these crops are considered as agriculture crops and not forest produces.

He said that as per a personal survey conducted by him, Mawsynram constituency alone is producing one lakh tons of broomsticks in a year with a turnover generated to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore.

“If broomstick is considered as an agricultural produce, it will be doubled. We should look into the economics of the crop which can provide sustainable livelihood to the farmers,” Shangpliang said.

He however said earlier the price of broomstick per kg was at Rs 80 in the market but this has dropped to only Rs 32 as it was not supported by the system.

According to him, the state government should come up with a system to protect the farmers especially from exploitation by the middlemen.

Referring to a high level study conducted by Agriculture department on the viability of broomstick, Shangpliang however said it is sad that the study had submitted that broomstick is not a favourable crop as it could endanger the soil.

Stating that bamboo and broomstick are from the same grass family, he however questioned that on one hand the government is encouraging bamboo cultivation while on the other hand it is discouraging cultivation of broomstick in the state.

Similarly, he said Mawsynram constituency is earning 2.25 crore from 1.50 lakh tons of bay leaves produced in a year while Rs 2.65 crore from 50 tons of wild pepper per season.

“If taking all other areas in the state that is growing these crops, the figure will really go up,” he said.

Reiterating his demand, Shanpliang said that the government should wake up and help the farmers so that the state to prevent situation like in other states where farmers are forced to take adverse step by ending their lives.

In his reply, Agriculture minister Banteidor Lyngdoh said broomstick, bay leaf (Tezpatta) and wild pepper are important non timber forest produce (NTFP) in Meghalaya, which are semi domesticated by farmers of Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts living in the southern slopes bordering Bangladesh.

He said these plants usually grown in the steep hill slopes as well as inside forest areas and are classified as minor forest produce and transit pass are required from the district council and state forest department for transportation outside the state.

“However, as per the Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Act, both broomstick and tezpatta are notified as agriculture produce,” Lyngdoh said.

He however said according to the Meghalaya Agriculture Produce Market Act, 1980, agriculture produce is defined as “agriculture produce including any produce, whether processed or non-processed, of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, pisciculture, sericulture and forest as specified in the Schedule.”

Admitting that broomgrass cultivation provides a good profit to the grower, he said the yield varies between 300 and 500 kg of inflorescence (broom material) per hectare adding even without any external intervention, the farmers are getting good returns because of low investment and quick production.

“However, as crops like broomstick and bay leaf do not fall under the agriculture sector and fall under forest produce, any proposal to bring these crops under the purview of the Agriculture department will have to be examined by the government,” the minister stated.

By Our Reprter