Top 5 Challenges Faced by Northeast India Farmers

Farm located in Meghalaya

Challenges Faced by Northeast India Farmers Is Not Visible at First Glance

Driving past the lush paddy fields and fruit-laden trees of Shillong, one can’t help but feel envious of the people who work in those fields. The beauty and serenity of their surroundings never cease to calm the white-collar worker’s mind which is bursting with number crunching and information overload 24x7!


What are the challenges faced by the farmers today?

Challenges faced by farmers are numerous and there is no dearth of reasons. But here’s a quick look at some of the most critical ones.

1. Fragmented Land Holding


As an example, 81% of the population of Meghalaya is agrarian, with individual landholding averaging half an acre. This fact has resulted in numerous side effects which are already causing long term damage.




Farmers of Meghalaya plucking bird eye chili

2. Lack of a Stable Market



If the markets were more encouraging, then farmers could start growing low volume but high-value crops that not only work well with their small landholdings but also provide greater value.

Farmer from Meghalaya planting Chili in his field  
Ri-bhoi farmer with Raj Kharmih (Zizira team). This farmer grows carrots on his half acre plot. Imagine if he knew there were other plants that would bring him more value for his plot of land!

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3. Lack of Mechanization


Often produce is loaded in handwoven bamboo baskets and manually transported as there are no roads for vehicles to pass.

So you ask what stops them from mechanizing their operations?

There are two primary reasons.


Secondly, even if farmers did happen to own land in the plains, small landholdings prevent them from making the kind of investment required for mechanization.




Hills of Meghalaya  
Much of the terrain in Northeast India is hilly, thus preventing mechanization

Meghalaya tapioca being sold a Meghalaya market  
farmers not agreeing to modernize post-harvest methods

4. Agricultural Infrastructure

In India, post-harvest losses due to unavailability of proper storage are said to be as much as 30%!




Farmer tending his field in Meghalaya

5. Lack of Education Creates Gap Between Northeast India Farmers and Prosperity






Farmer from Meghalaya



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