Shillong, Dec 4 (IANS): Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said the government plans to create a 'farmers' commission' to tackle the problems being faced by the farming community.

"We have initiated different programmes to enable direct access to market and value addition to agriculture and horticulture products," Sangma said addressing the first Farmer's Parliament.

The Farmer's Parliament is organised by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with Meghalaya Basin Development Agency and Hill Farmers' Union.

Admitting that there has been inherent problem of infrastructure, logistics and market linkages, he said, "We believe that through farmer's parliament, there will be a direct engagement enabling us to further develop our policies in sync with the needs of our farmers."

Sangma said the government has initiated the Farmer's Parliament to understand the plight of the farming community and assist them through different pro-active policies.

"Farmer's Parliament is allowing government officials and policy makers to meet at a single platform to find ways and means to address the challenges affecting the farming community of Meghalaya," he said.

Sangma also told the farmers that the government intends to upscale the potential of the farming community through different innovative and marketing programmes.