Mango and cashew growers in the Konkan region have been severely affected this year due to mango blossom unseasonal rains, temperature fluctuations, fruit fly infestation, locust attacks, fungal diseases and rising pesticide costs.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetty said mango production in several areas, including Devgad, has declined by more than 90% because of changing weather conditions. He said mango growers from Konkan will stage a protest on Friday, May 15, against the government’s inaction despite continuous demonstrations over the past three months.
Key members of the Sindhudurg Mango Cashew Planters and Traders Federation addressed the media at the Mumbai Marathi Journalists’ Association on Wednesday. Ubatha MP Vinayak Raut, Congress leader Bhai Jagtap, Communist Party leader Comrade Prakash Reddy, Marathi Study Centre president Deepak Pawar, Janata Dal leader Prabhakar Narkar, Dharmarajya Party leader Rajan Raje, Shetkari Kamgar Paksha leader Rajendra Korde and several others were present.
Farmers in the Konkan region, who largely depend on mango, cashew and fishing businesses, are currently facing a severe financial crisis. The growers said mango farmers have suffered major losses due to natural calamities and demanded immediate financial assistance from the state government.
The farmers alleged that the Agriculture, Horticulture and Fisheries departments had failed to take effective measures despite the situation demanding urgent intervention from the Mango Research Centre, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities.
They also criticised the state government for announcing only Rs 22,000 per hectare as assistance in the previous budget, calling it inadequate. Despite repeated agitations over the last three months, no concrete action has been taken, the farmers said.
Raju Shetty announced that mango growers from Konkan will take out a ‘Dhadak Kaifiyat Morcha’ on Friday, May 15, from Girgaum Chowpatty to the Chief Minister’s residence, ‘Varsha’, to press for their demands.