Tura, September 4, 2024: For the First Time in Garo Hills, a Profit Sharing ceremony with the Coffee Growers was organised at Oragitok, West Garo Hills on 4th September, 2024. The program was organized by All Garo Hills Multi Purpose Cooperative Society (AGHMPCS), Babadam, West Garo Hills in collaboration with Durama MPCS and supported by MBMA and Coffee Board, Tura.
Speaking on the occasion, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Jagdish Chelani said that this is the first kind of event organised for discussing and distributing profit sharing of coffee growers and added that he never thought that coffee is available in this area. He further stated that lifting about 12, 000 kilograms of coffee from this area shows that the region is growing and producing a considerable amount of coffee. He also expressed his appreciation about the natural beauty of the place and said that he is ready to assist any kind of help if they need it in future.
Director, AGHMPCS, Babadam, Rev Fr. Sunny Mavelil informed that the AGHMPCS is able to function as a cooperative society with the financial assistance from the State Government and is working to uplift the economic condition of the people of the region. He said that the Durama MPCS was formed in the year 2022 and said that he had purchased about 1200 kilograms of coffee from this area and sold it in Shillong but did not get profit due to its poor quality. Before this intervention the coffee growers sold their coffee for a mere sum of about Rs. 15-20 only, he said. He then informed that now after selling the coffee bought from this area, whatever profit received is being distributed to the coffee growers of this region.
Meanwhile, Md. Sun Muhammad Ali, Coffee Board, Tura highlighted the establishment of Coffee Board in the district and mentioned that the Coffee Board is also trying to assist the coffee growers of the region by providing training on improving and following the method of coffee plantation and harvesting but, people faced various challenges in marketing the product. Therefore, the Coffee Board introduced Coffee Board Marketing Support Scheme which helped the people to market their produce in Bangalore, however the system could not work properly and now the board is collaborating with the cooperative societies or private parties, he mentioned.
During the programme, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Jagdish Chelani distributed the share of profits to the coffee farmers.
