Team Herald
MARGAO: Agriculture Department on Tuesday, refuting the allegations made by the farmers engaged in watermelon cultivation in Verna and surrounding areas, stated that around 194 farmers have been compensated for the loss to the watermelon cultivation due to rindworm pest infestation in 2020-21.
However, the farmers further claimed that the mere amount of Rs 4,000 to 5,000 is nothing as compared to their losses incurred, which was between Rs 30,000 and Rs 80,000.
Reportedly, few days ago Herald had highlighted the issue, where several farmers from Verna and surrounding areas had alleged that the government did not pay them the compensation.
It is pertinent to note that a large number of farmers from Verna, Nagao, Majorda and Utorda are engaged in seasonal watermelon cultivation, this being the only source of livelihood for these farmers.
In 2020, a sudden breakout of a rare type of disease in watermelons had left more than hundreds of farmers from Verna, and surrounding areas in financial crises, as the agricultural lands have been affected due to the rindworm infestation. Large tracts of lands which were cultivated by these farmers organically have been ravaged by this rindworm, which has further resulted in loss of thousands of rupees to each of the farmers. This further continued in 2021.
Reacting to the issue, Shariff A X Furtado, Zonal Agriculture Officer said around 194 cases in Nuvem Constituency has been already cleared by the department under Shetkari Adhar Nidhi Scheme.
“Watermelon losses in Verna fall under Nuvem Constituency, and can be seen as an epidemic of disease. If any farmer’s name is not mentioned then it means that either they have not applied or their claim must have been rejected for non possession of Krishi Card,” said Furtado.
He further said that most of the compensations have been deposited into the bank accounts of the applicants.
On Tuesday, When Herald again visited a few farmers of Verna, they confirmed that they have received the compensation, but at the same time they were upset with the mere amount given by the government, which according to them is a name sake formality.
“Yes, I have received Rs. 4000 as compensation for the loss of Rs. 50,000. My total watermelon cultivation was damaged due to the worm. The compensation is just a joke, and nothing else”, said the farmer.
