Dimapur, July 8 (MExN): The season for farmers to harvest in various districts has started.
Yet, “it is an irony that on one hand we propagate and strive for self sufficient economy by declaring year of farmers/entrepreneurs and organic Nagaland while on the other hand we are unable to facilitate avenues to help our farmers to sell their surplus produce in the markets and towns of Nagaland.”
ACAUT Nagaland today pointed this out in an open letter to the Chief Minister of Nagaland today asking him to “intervene, assist and facilitate Market avenues for farmers from districts of Nagaland to sell their surplus produce in Dimapur.” According to the ACAUT Nagaland, “The local farmers are unable to sell their produce in the markets of Dimapur due to the mafia like gangsters have taken reign of the markets and have created market monopoly and syndicate system in connivance with non-local traders. To further add to their woes, the poor farmers have to face the malice of unabated taxation along the way to Dimapur market by various governmental agencies, various factions of NNPGs, numerous associations and unions making the whole exercise of making the trip to Dimapur non-profitable.”
They cited the example of a farmer from Pfutsero being assaulted in Dimapur a few years ago because he defied the syndicates and braved to sell the cabbages in the markets of Dimapur. “That year Phek District had surplus of organic cabbages and was brought down to Dimapur; however due to unabated taxation and market monopoly the farmers were unable to sell their products in the markets of Dimapur, the ACAUT Nagaland along with Business Association of Nagas (BAN) did try and intervene and help but unfortunately it was l too little too late and in the end a whole lot of the cabbages were distributed free and the rest rotted,” recalled the anti corruption body.
It informed the Chief Minister that “this year too there is surplus of organic produce from various quarters and districts of Nagaland for e.g. the Tomatoes from Longkhum Village in Mokokchung District, Cabbages from Phek Districts, etc.”
While suggesting a few measures (see box), the ACAUT Nagaland appealed that the Government take up the appeal on a priority basis and urgency “to ameliorate the conditions of local farmers and in the larger interest of our state's economy.”
