Srikakulam: Middlemen, traders take tribal farmers for a ride

Srikakulam: Srikakulam agency area is known for pineapple cultivation in the agency. The pineapple from the agency area has good demand across the north coastal districts, such as Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.

Pineapple is being cultivated in Sitampeta, Veeragattam, Palakonda, Burja, Hiramandal, Bhamini, Kotturu, Pathapatnam, Meliaputti and Mandasa mandals in the district.

Most of the pineapple farmers are tribal people in these mandals are under agency sub-plan area covered under Sitampeta Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA).

These tribal farmers are unable to secure reasonable price for their produce. They have no knowledge of prevailing market conditions at different areas for their pineapple fruit.

Middlemen and local traders are taking advantage of the situation and exploiting these farmers indiscriminately. These traders and middlemen are paying only Rs 6 for each pineapple fruit but in open market in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and other urban and semi urban areas, each fruit is sold at Rs 17.

Previously ITDA officials had provided transport and storage facility for the pineapple which helped the farmers earn reasonable price for their produce.

This year in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown officials did not focus on it and tribal farmers are inevitably disposing their produce at a throwaway price.

"During the last year season we had sold each fruit for per Rs 10 now the price is Rs 6 due to lack of market facility and transporting

of our produce" said tribal farmers Savara Lingayya, Savara Pentayya of Eethamanuguda village in Sitampeta mandal. The farmers are demanding minimum support price (MSP) for their pineapple fruit.