Roadside vendors turned exporters: Meghalaya’s ‘numbered’ farmers reap fruits of labour

Neighbors Prestina Sangkly, Dilip Rabha and Mercy Lyngdoh, who didn’t know each other a decade ago, had something in common. These were farmers who struggled to sell the fruits of their labor (seasonal Khasi Mandarin oranges, Kew and Queen pineapples, and perennial bananas) on roadsides or at weekly markets.

Their lives began to change when they and 430 others became “unique numbers” in Meghalaya’s farm collectivisation experiment with the establishment of Jirang Organic Agricultural Farmers Producer Company Limited (FPC) in 2017. Jirang, a block headquarters in the Ri-Bhoi district of the state, is about 52 km southwest of Guwahati and 120 km northwest of Shillong.

“There may be others bearing my name, but none of them can showcase my farmer code SBORG17MLRBJ06035 as a member of our FPC, which has helped us increase our collective income from ₹1.5 lakh in 2017-2021 to over ₹1.17 crore in 2025,” said Ms. Lyngdoh, who owns 1.42 hectares. 3.1 hectare farm growing organic fruit and spices in the village of Warmawsaw.

The code number bears the organic certification of a New Delhi-based institution and the rural Jirang code of Meghalaya.

Rabha Bey from Sukurburia village, who grows pineapples, oranges, bananas, ginger and black pepper on more than 50% of his 2.22 hectares of land, is also proud of his farmer code. “From an anonymous dealer, I am currently exporter number SBORG17MLRBJ02014 and also supply to major Indian retail brands across many metros,” he said.

‘Big leap’

Jirang FPC was established under the centrally sponsored Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North East Region. The company’s CEO and farmer, Ibalahun Thangkhiew, said the first few years were spent coordinating with other farmers and training them for the “big step”.

From New Jirang, the central location of the crop collection centre, the FPC gradually expanded to reach 433 members in 18 villages (the most remote being 25 km away), cultivating nearly 500 acres of land. Approximately 75% of members are women.

“Our farmers started getting high prices for their produce after the FPC came into being. A farmer who fetched ₹400-500 for 80 pieces of GI-tagged Khasi Mandarin earned ₹700-800 or even ₹1,000 for larger pieces. Similarly, a pineapple that was selling for ₹8-10 per piece started selling for ₹20-25.” Ms. Thangkhiew told Hindu.

“More importantly, post-FPC, farmers have been spared the hassle of selling their produce at sub-divisional headquarters Patharkmah, 5 km uphill or at distant weekly markets. Today, Reliance Retail, Blinkit, Safal-Mother Dairy and other brands send air-conditioned trucks to buy our produce,” he said.

After 2022, when the first consignment of Jirang’s Khasi Mandarin oranges is exported to Dubai, each FPC member earns ₹50,000-80,000 annually from the fruits alone. Each of them also grows paddy and vegetables to earn their own living and sell.

pulping pushing

The “big step” that farmers are preparing for comes after the installation of aseptic pulp processing unit worth ₹2.46 crore in September 2025 at the 2.5-acre collection centre, which also houses a cold storage. This was Meghalaya’s first fruit pulp processing unit set up under the innovative Community-Public-Private Partnership model, with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and FOCUS (Farmers Collectivisation). Scaling of Production and Marketing Systems) program.

“Having the capacity to process 10 metric tonnes of fresh fruits per day, this unit has significantly reduced wastage. The quality of our products is assured, but our traditionally organic approach cannot ensure that they conform to the uniform size and shape preferred by buyers. Smaller, distorted fruits, or fruits damaged on the surface during transportation from the villages to the collection centre, are now pulped,” said Persevere Ranee, chairman of Jirang FPC.

“Not only are the pulp fruits in special bags available at competitive prices, they also have an 18-month shelf life to help us do business beyond the pineapple and orange seasons,” he said.

Farmer members are not the only beneficiaries of the FPC, which the Conrad K. Sangma-led Meghalaya government claims has become a model for successful farm collectivisation. FPC employs 20 people to load, unload, clean and pack fruits for ₹350-450 per day, depending on working hours.

According to the state’s Agriculture and Horticulture officials, the Jirang model is inspiring villagers in other parts of the state to go for collectivization to fetch better prices for their produce. Mr Ranee said the model ensured that villagers learned the basics of market dynamics and trained themselves in other aspects of farming, including preparing their own worm compost.

matrilineal power

One of the factors behind the growth of Jirang FPC is Meghalaya’s community traditions and women-led agriculture. In the state’s matrilineal society, women play a central role in planting, post-harvest management and farmer institutions; They make pineapple or orange not only a crop but also an important source of household income and rural empowerment.

To take the women-led initiative a step higher, the State government launched the Meghalaya State Organic Mission in 2024 with an investment of ₹ 295 crore and aims to bring 1 lakh hectares under certified organic cultivation by 2028, benefiting over 90,000 farmers.

Pineapple, one of the priority crops under the mission, currently accounts for about 25% of the area under organic certification, reflecting its importance in the horticultural economy of Meghalaya.

“Scientific interventions have been undertaken to improve planting materials, growing practices and productivity, while demonstration farms and demonstration visits have helped farmers adopt modern technologies without compromising traditional and sustainable farming methods,” a government spokesman said.

Modern processing infrastructure

“The government has invested in modern processing infrastructure and decentralized collection systems, ensuring farmers receive better prices and reduced post-harvest losses,” he added.

These units include the MeghFarm Processing Center in the West Garo Hills district and the Tikrikilla PRIME Centre, which provides modern facilities for juice processing, dehydration, flash freezing and storage to around 10,000 farmers.

The government is also introducing farm festival circuit in Meghalaya and beyond to connect farmers directly with consumers, retailers and food businesses. One such event is the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival, which has emerged as a flagship platform to promote the state’s premium pineapples since its launch in 2023.

The 2026 edition of the pineapple festival is scheduled for July 10-12 at New Delhi’s Dilli Haat.