Betanati: After distress sale of tomatoes and cabbages in parts of Keonjhar district, chilly growers have complained of the same problem in Betanati area in Mayurbhanj district.
Farmers alleged there are no takers for their chilly while many have left the crop unplucked in the field.
They have to incur heavy losses when wages far exceed the proceeds from sales. They said they have hoped for a better earning, but are disappointed now over the distress sale of the chilly.
According to reports, many parts of Betanati area are suitable for chilly cultivation. They raised chilly by using lift irrigation points or creeks or ponds.
Farmers usually cultivate chilly and other vegetables over 400 acres at Sribatspur village in Gadadeulia panchayat every year.
They had bought 7 gm of chilly seeds for Rs 320, apart from investing in fertilisers, chemicals, and wages. They have to spend an average of Rs 10 to 15 per a plant, they said. If the price of the chilly is not more than Rs 20 a kg, they will suffer losses, they added.
However, this year, due to lack of irrigation, the chilly cultivation has remained confined to 100 acres. “We had a good harvest of chilly this year. However, some traders did not pay more than Rs 8 a kg. Now, quintals of chilly are lying unsold,” they rued.
“In such a situation, we have no way but to resort to distress sale. Local market has no demand for chilly,” lamented farmers.
Among the farmers who have grown chilly included Shiba Mandal, Manoranjan Majhi, Benudhar Jena, Jogendra Das, Barendra Parida, Ganeswar Mohanty and Harischandra Maharna.
They added that earlier they had suffered losses due to distress sale of cabbage and tomatoes. “We had hoped to recoup the losses from chilly, but are now dejected over the situation,” they said.
Earlier, chilly from the area was being supplied outside the district, but traders refused to buy it. Chilly had dried on the plants and were left uncollected as the wages will not be recouped from its sale.
Now, farmers are worried about the possibility of their loan default. Farmers have decided to take up the issue with the district collector and demanded provision of marketing facilities.
Meanwhile, upset over the loan burden, over 50 farmers from the area have migrated out of the district to keep their pot boiling. PNN
