Port Blair, Apr 1: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, President, PCC in his letter addressed to Mr. Sharad Pawar, Union Minister of Agriculture Food and Public Distribution has informed him about the problems faced by the farmers of these Islands because of the suspension of the
procurement of Copra.
Mr. Sharma informed him that “The Price Support Scheme of the Govt. of India for the procurement of copra of the farmers in the country including this territory, as announced on yearly basis, by the Govt, of India has benefited much to the farmers of these islands
particularly the tribal farmers whose livelihood depends upon the produce of copra. The last scheme was in force till December, 2012 and further the scheme was extended beyond December, 2012. However, the Branch Manager, NAFED, Kolkata abruptly suspended the procurement of copra by intimating us through email dated 22.2.2013.
Because of the suspension of procurement of copra the farmers of these Islands have started suffering as the farmers have no other source of income particularly the tribal growers to pull on their lives as the sale of copra was the only source of income to the farmers.
This has also offered an opportunity to the private traders/middlemen to exploit the farmers to purchase their produce at much lesser rates and therefore, it has become absolutely necessary to continue the Price Support Scheme to save the farmers from exploitation so that the farmers could get the rates fixed by the Govt, in the scheme.”
Mr. Sharma has requested Mr. Pawar to personally look into the matter and direct the concerned authorities to continue the commencement of Copra procurement on priority basis.
