Aizawl: Sticking to its pre-poll promises, the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government headed by Chief Minister Lalduhoma will purchase four agricultural crops produced by local farmers to develop farmers in Mizoram, a minister said.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Aizawl on Wednesday, agriculture minister PC Vanlalruata said that the government will buy four agricultural products -ginger, turmeric, chilli and broomstick to economically uplift the local farmers.
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The government will fix a support price for each crop and take steps to arrange markets so that the farmers can sell their harvest at a rate higher than the support price, he said.
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The minister said that focus is being made on market linkage and the process is expected to be completed within three years.
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After three years, farmers are expected to have direct contact with buyers, which will reduce the government’s involvement in the buy and sale process, he said.
He said that the government will develop a database and collect details of farmers, including expected quantities of crops they will produce in a year.
As per the assessment, over 10 lakh quintals of ginger are expected to be produced by farmers across the state next year, Vanlalruata said.
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He said that the government will float tender through local agricultural societies to find buyers for the purchase of agricultural crops, especially ginger.
However, the government will also make agreements with giant companies (big buyers) to buy ginger as a tender or auction system will not be sufficient to sell all the produce in the state, he said.
Processing plants will be set up for ginger where sorting, grading and slicing dry will be done and in some units, ginger paste and ginger ale will be produced, he said.
Vanlalruata also urged farmers to form the Multipurpose Primary Agriculture Credit Society (MPACS) in their respective villages.
He said that all processes of buying and selling agricultural products will be executed through local agriculture societies.