Govt to support farmers in distress through CM-ASSURE

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 6, 2025

Over 500 metric tons of broom grass was procured with financial disbursement totally Rs 4.76 crore thereby supporting hundreds of broom grass farmers. 

This was informed by the Minister in-charge Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Ampareen Lyngdoh while replying in the Assembly during the question hour. 

According to her, the support is being extended under the CM ASSURE, which is a state government’s market intervention scheme which will be notified from time to time for specific non-perishable commodities, only when there is a fall in their market price. 

The procurement price will be fixed to compensate for the cost of cultivation and ensure a marginal profit. 

“In 2024, to mitigate distress sale of broom grass by farmers, the state government had launched a procurement and aggregation scheme. 

Under the scheme, Meghalaya State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) aggregated broom grass from farmers through farmer collectives and individual aggregators at a fixed price which was above the then prevailing market price. Over 500 metric tons of broom grass was procured, with financial disbursement totally Rs 4.76 crore, thereby supporting hundreds of broom grass farmers,” Lyngdoh informed. 

She added after evaluation, the government has decided to continue this scheme to step in whenever is need to help farmers in distress. 

In his supplementary reply to a query raised by UDP legislator from Amlarem Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the scheme is something which is closed to his heart and the crux of the matter is that this program is meant to intervene at a time when farmers are in distress. 

“We cannot assess the success of the scheme and the marketing board just by looking at the board’s buying and selling of products,” he stated adding “We will improve the scheme and the marketing board’s job is to buy and sell as per market circle but at least farmers during time of distress wil be supported by the government.”

When Congress legislator from Mylliem Ronnie V Lyngdoh wanted to know if government will consider including other crops under the scheme, Sangma however said that the measure was mainly for non-perishable products like brookstick and arecanut.

As far as for perishable products, the CM assured that the government will try to set up more cold storage and processing units. 

“Large number of cold storages have come up in last seven years and many more will be set up,” he added.