MARGAO
With cashew production hit by around 50 per cent this season, farmers have called upon the government to declare a cashew famine and bail out the farmers engaged in the cashew industry.
The cashew farmers find themselves in the lurch this season not because of the steep decline in cashew production, but because they have not reaped the benefits of the support price of Rs 150 per kilogram of cashew nuts. Concerns have been raised that cashew production will not cross the 50 per cent mark this year due to a host of factors, including climate change.
Taking up cudgels for the beleaguered farmers is the Adarsh Krishi Agricultural Society which has called for a day-long seminar to discuss the problems plaguing the cashew industry in the State. Chairman of the society, Prakash Velip has invited Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to come and listen to the grievances of the cashew farmers from the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona, Dharbandora, Salcete and other areas of the State at the seminar scheduled on April 26.
Addressing the media, Velip said that the Adarsh Society had procured around 1920 tonnes of cashew from farmers during the last season. “As of today, we have procured only 909 tonnes, which is around 47 per cent less than the procurement done in the corresponding period last year. Given the situation with just a month for the cashew season to end, total cashew production may not cross the 50 per cent mark this year,” Velip said.
Velip further pointed out that the government support price of Rs 150 has not benefitted the cashew farming community since it is provided only to the farmers with the Krishi cards. “Adarsh Society has around 16,000 registered farmers of which only 2,000 of them have the Krishi cards. Many farmers could not obtain the Krishi cards due to a host of factors,” Velip said.
To tide over the situation, Velip has suggested that the government come out with a scheme providing 15,000 subsidy for one hectare of cashew farm. “This will help the farmers in a better way and the government need not even pay the support price if such a scheme is unveiled for the cashew farmers,” he said.
Expressing concern over the import of cashew nuts from Vietnam and African countries, Velip said it is high time the government takes a call to stop the import of cashew nuts before it spells doom for the local farmers.
Justifying his demand that the government declare a cashew famine this year, Velip said such as measure would bail out the village economy before the current situation spells doom for the cashew industry.
