SANGUEM: The farmers from Netravali and surrounding areas have bitterly complained that the Goa Horticulture Procurement Centre in the village has refused to procure cucumbers claiming them to be “oversized”, weighing over 110 grams.
The farmers were irked after the procurement centre returned the whole lot of cucumbers which weighed over 110 grams and which were considered to be little bigger in size.
The in charge at the procurement Centre claimed that the Managing Director of Goa Horticulture Corporation has specifically directed them not to accept cucumbers weighing over 110 grams as these cannot be used in the preparation of salad.
Farmers from Kazur, Vichundrem, Vorgoni and Netravali are dejected over the centre’s refusal to procure oversized cucumbers.
“How are we supposed to know which cucumber will weigh over 110 grams”, asked Sangtu Gaonkar from Vichundrem, who had brought around 22 kg cucumbers for sale at the centre.
“However, the officials at the centre rejected around 2 kg cucumbers claiming them to be oversized,” claimed Gaonkar.
“Given the prevailing situation and the rejection by the procurement centre, the production of cucumbers is not at all viable and the government should work out modalities on the losses suffered by farmers,” Gaonkar said.
Another farmer Ulhas Gaonkar from Kazur showed the 5 kg cucumbers which were rejected by the procurement centre from 33 kg which were brought for sale.
“What are we supposed to do with the rejected lot? We will have to simply dump them in garbage or feed the cattle. Government is paying the farmers Rs 21 per kg but considering the rejection criteria adopted by the corporation this amount is not sufficient to recover the cost involved in the cultivation and transportation of cucumbers to the procurement centres,” claimed Ulhas.
“Under the present circumstances and considering the fact that the procurement centres does not accept cucumbers which are oversized or weigh over 110 grams, we will have to think twice before undertaking cucumber cultivation in future,” the farmers added.
