the goan I network
CANACONA
Seeking justice from the government, a group of orchid farmers from Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem blamed former agriculture minister Ramesh Tawadkar for leaving them in the lurch and ignoring their grievances.
Addressing a news conference at Canacona, the orchid polyhouse owners said they had been spending sleepless nights due to increasing bank debts and requested government to give them justice.
“Assuring us high returns, Tawadkar involved us in the agriculture department pilot project/scheme of Orchids Polyhouse plantation, stating the orchids have high demands in India and abroad,” said one orchid farmer.
“Now, the scheme has gone for a toss and we have received bank notices for defaulting in loan repayments and we have even been summoned to attend courts in Mumbai.”
The farmers said they narrated their grievances to several political leaders, adding that they were assured that the matter would be resolved by then chief minister later Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Agriculture Minister Vijay Sardessai, then MP Narendra Savaikar, ex-Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai, ST Commission Chairperson Prakash Velip and BJP Secretary Satish Dhond.
They claimed that the agriculture department did not acted on their grievances despite submitting a memorandum to the department as advised by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“The agriculture department had launched this scheme but has, so far, failed to address our issue even once and the department seems to be equally involved with the contractor involved in the launch of the scheme in Goa,” remarked another farmer.
They alleged that an agriculture company ‘Radiance Agro Private Limited (RAPL)’ owed them about Rs 30-35 lakh for the stems (orchids) supplied to a company in Bangalore.
Incidentally, the RAPL, whic was formed in December 2015, has two directors, Ramesh Bombo Tawadkar and Bhanudas Laxman Khutkar.
Sadanand Gavde, Mahesh S Gaonkar, Pramod Devidas, Laxman Velip, Nilesh Desai, Paresh S N Gaonkar, Chandrakant S Gaonkar, Chandan B, Vijay M Tubki, Prashant S Gaonkar, Suraj Naikgaunkar, were some of the orchids farmers present at the conference.
Tawadkar rejects allegations
CANACONA: Rejecting accusations of the aggrieved orchid farmers, former agriculture minister and BJP State Vice President Ramesh Tawadkar has claimed that his company Radiance Agro Private Limited (RAPL) had not been involved in any business deal with the orchid farmers. “The RAPL never did any business with the orchid farmers, nor did RAPL authorise anyone else to conduct such business for us. It is wrong to say RAPL owes anything to the orchid farmers,” said Tawadkar.
Responding to claims by orchid farmers that he had left them in the lurch, Tawadkar added: “It was only due to my concern that a few benefits were extended from the plant suppliers.”
“I am always there with the orchid farmers for their demands to bring back the contractor. But since I am not in the government any more, I may be unable to assist them. It is for the government to take the call and work out a solution to resolve their grievances,” said Tawadkar.
