Broomstick To Be An Argo-Product: Banteidor Lyngdoh

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya government has taken into consideration the demands made by farmers for the past many years to recognize the broomstick as an agricultural product. In this connection, Minister of Agriculture Banteidor Lyngdoh on Thursday informed that last month on May 7, a meeting was held between officials of the Agriculture Department in the presence of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrak K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and Minister of Forest to discuss the issue. “The government wants to remove the problems faced by the farmers; hence we have decided that broomsticks produced by the farmers will not be considered as a forest product but as agro-forestry product,” Banteidor Lyngdoh said.

The minister informed that the process is currently under discussion and this matter will be taken up in the next Cabinet meeting for approval.

When asked, if tax will be imposed by the government or the Autonomous District Council (ADCs) on the product as it is will be recognized as an agro-forestry product, he said, “From the side of the State Government, there will be no taxation on the farmers, however I don’t know about the district councils.”

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