Sanguem: The orchid farmers from Sanguem taluka have called for immediate help and financial assistance from the government and the agriculture deptartment to tide over the huge losses incurred due to COVID-19.
The farmers who have their Orchid plantations at Wadem and Netravali village lamented that the cancellation of all functions, no sale of flowers and the closure of borders has affected their business badly. Before the lockdown, the farmers said they were waiting for festive months of March to May.
Pointing out that they were expecting to earn around lakhs during that period, Satish Gaonkar, a farmer said he suffered losses of not less than Rs 5 lakhs.
Almost all the plants, which are spread in an area of around 3000 sq mts of every farmer have bloomed and with no harvest taking place; the flowers will soon start getting spoiled making the farmers life miserable.
“Due to the present scenario and as we are unable to harvest the full bloomed plants, there is no possibility of going for fresh blooms, “claimed Gaonkar.
Another farmer Prashant Gaonkar also echoed similar feelings and called on the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar to chalk out some modalities to help Goa’s orchid farmers.
The farmers are also worried about their loan repayments and business’s future.
