Growing passion fruit forms an important occupation in Mizoram.
Congress govt doesn’t care, say farmers
Aizawl, December 29, 2009: Mizoram’s passion-fruit growers are unhappy lot during this festive season. They have a good reason behind their sad faces – the Mizoram Food And Allied Industries Corporation Ltd (MIFCO) is yet to pay them Rs. 44,23,958.
With prices going north in view of the festive season, they have no other option but to go to the press.
The farmers held a press conference here at the Aizawl Press Club on December 21, pleading to journalists to assist them in getting paid for their hard labour.
One farmer expressed in despair that they had approached Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla, but the latter informed them that there was nothing more he could do on his part. The cultivators had also met the state agriculture minister and industries minister in this regard. Both ministers assured the farmers that they would get things done by December 15, but not a penny has been given to the devastated farmers.
“We are totally ruined by the state government, now we could not even start our occupation (growing). Where shall we go now?,” asked another cultivator.
After learning that they have been “cheated”, the cultivators again met the agriculture minister. This time, the minister had informed them that he had finished doing necessary things from his part.
As thing turns from bad to worst, the leaders then went to industries office and were told that because of less financial sanctions from the Centre, prices of passion fruits sold to MIFCO would not be paid very soon.
Having completely surprised, they then again met the MIFCO chairman only to learn that even 50 % of their pending payment could not be paid at the moment.
“We never faced problems in previous years, but now as the new Congress government was installed we have to face various problems. We used to get paid just after one month,” one cultivator said.
Most of the villagers are from remote locations coming with high expectation that the government would fulfil their promised before Christmas and New Year but their expectations have turned into dust.
(With Inputs from Newmai News Network)
Have the grievances have been addressed or not as of today? I believe that this MIFCO initiative has proved to be more successful in generating revenue for the state than most others. Greencover Overseas, Guwahati (Why we are not doing it ourselves is a question for another day) markets passion fruit squash produced by MIFCO in India and abroad. I have tried the squash and the quality is really quite good. A bottle of 750 ml sold at Rs 40 if you purchase it by case (10 bottles) is a steal. Further passion fruit being loved but rare makes this a very feasible investment for the state of Mizoram. But unless those who sweat it out are given the returns for their dedication and hardwork we will demotivate the farmers once again. I remember that ginger farmers once were denied their dues earlier. Huge quantities were left rotting. The state government must truly work hard to motivate and generate greater revenues through such initiatives. We want growth and change from a macro perspective but lets accept reality micros added up make up the macro.