SANGUEM: Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar is not happy with 25 percent hike in support price for cashew nuts; instead he has demanded nearly 100 percent hike.
On Thursday the government announced that it is hiking the support price from Rs 105 to Rs 125; however, Gaonkar has demanded that the same be hiked to Rs 200 per kg.
The hike was announced by the government after the MLA made a representation to the chief minister. However, the 25 percent hike is not acceptable to him, hence, he has urged the chief minister to seek expert opinion on the matter and review the rates for cashew nuts at the earliest.
Speaking to Herald, Gaonkar informed that even after the minimal increase in rates by the government, the cashew farmers in the State will suffer losses and therefore urged the government to review the decision and increase the support price to Rs 200.
Gaonkar informed that except for those residing in the coastal belt, majority of the people living in Quepem, Sanguem, Curchorem, Pernem, Valpoi and Sattari are exclusively dependent on cashew farming. Therefore, he said, the government should consider the demands of these people.
Gaonkar reiterated that the big companies and individuals involved in processing cashew nuts are reaping the maximum benefit of Rs 550 to Rs 1000 per kg while the farmers are getting just Rs 105 per kg which, he said, is unacceptable.
“Cashew farmers toil all day long in the cashew plantations and put in lot of labour and hard work throughout the year, but at the end, they do not get any income and this is frustrating,” Gaonkar said.
“Annually, a farmer spends around Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 per hector of cashew plantation. While the income derived under the prevailing prices is hardly around Rs 60000 to Rs 1,00,000 per hector. This leaves the farmers with hardly any income for the maintenance of his family,” Gaonkar claimed.
Most of the cashew farmers are solely dependent on the income derived from cashew farming for their livelihood and school fees of their children. Under the present circumstances and given the very low rates for cashew nuts, the farmers are worried about their future, Gaonkar said and urged the government to seek due advice from the expert committee in fixating rates for cashew nuts.
