4 months ago
2
Sugarcane farmers and traders successful Dindigul are facing an antithetic concern this year. It has been a week since Pongal festivities came to an extremity but astatine the Gandhi Market successful Dindigul, stacks of sugarcane basal wilting successful the sun. Traders accidental that much than 10 tonnes of sugarcane person piled up successful the marketplace and income this twelvemonth person been highly poor. Within a week, the traders fearfulness that the sugarcane volition go unfit for consumption.
Katturaja, a trader, says that for him unsocial sugarcane bundles worthy astir ₹80,000 were lying unsold. “Now, I americium forced to merchantability 1 stalk of sugarcane astatine ₹30. During the play it would person fetched maine ₹60,” helium rues.
Some traders are staring astatine a nonaccomplishment of ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh. Selva, different trader, says that astir 15 mini-truck loads of sugarcane were lying unsold. He points retired that this twelvemonth they were caught unawares by the abrupt rainfall that lashed the territory conscionable earlier Pongal.
“Due to the rainfall we were incapable to harvest the sugarcane and transport it to the market. By the clip we did, it was already ‘Mattu Pongal’ and the concern had travel down and we were near with unsold produce,” helium said. Now, the traders were waiting to merchantability the nutrient during section temple festivals oregon jallikatu events. “In areas similar Sanarpatti, the sugarcane harvest is inactive lasting successful the tract without being harvested arsenic determination are nary buyers,” helium adds.
R. Ganesan, a farmer, points retired that successful areas similar Thadikombu and Chettinaickenpatti, harvesting has not been done successful astir 10 acres. “If the cane was not cut, the harvest would spell waste,” helium says.
The authorities tin amusement immoderate enactment to the sugarcane farmers by buying the section nutrient for pongal acquisition hampers. “This tin beryllium distributed astatine the PDS shops wrong the district. This volition besides assistance trim the proscription charges. Why procure sugarcane from different areas erstwhile determination is cultivation wrong the district?” helium asks.
Many traders besides consciousness that youngsters amusement precise small involvement successful chewing the fibrous stalk. “We utilized to bargain sugarcane successful bulk during this play arsenic astatine location everyone would walk clip relishing this. Now, I conscionable bargain a small portion for aged clip sake,” says Debina, a homemaker.
Shenbagam, who is simply a retailer astatine the market, says, “the zest with which radical enjoyed eating the sugarcane has travel down. Earlier, I would gain astir ₹600 regular but present it is astir nothing”.
Changing times and vagaries of quality person deed the sugarcane farmers and the seasonal traders hard. Ganesan, who had astir 3 acres nether sugarcane cultivation present has lone 40 cents nether the crop. “I americium readying to spell successful for coconut farming,” helium says and adds that farming was nary longer a lucrative option.
