Bicholim: Cashew Feni producers from Bicholim and Sattari taluka have unanimously decided to oppose the move of the State Excise Commissioner Shashank Mani Tripathi to stop the auction of cashew fruit bearing plantations that have been going on since ages.
Under the banner of Goa State Cashew Feni Producers, Distillers and Bottlers Association, they had a special meeting at the Gothaneshwar temple in Bicholim.
They resolved to demand with the government to look into the matter and not to allow the Commissioner to bring about changes in the existing procedure of auctioning cashew plantations.
The association members further expressed fear of facing acute losses if the auction is given to big industrialists as they will have to sell their cashew fruits at extremely meagre rates as demanded by big industrial companies, which they say will lead to the creation of a monopoly of big industrialists.
“The new amendments will benefit only the big companies consequently putting the local cashew producers into acute financial hardships,” said Association President Gurudatta Bhakta.
“We are also confused about the fact that why this sudden decision is taken,” said Secretary Hansel Vaz.
The members therefore decided to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and other ministers concerned to apprise them about their problems. The members also decided to oppose the move of the Excise Commissioner through a letter.
Bhakta also took the suggestions from the attendees. It was also decided to create awareness by organising such meetings in North Goa. The meeting was also attended by local Cashew Feni producers that included Tulshidas Gaonkar, Sandeep Sawant, Tukaram Haldankar and around 50 others from Bicholim and Sattari taluka.
