Not so sweet: Distress sale of sweet corn hits farmers hard in Koraput

Both boiled and roasted sweet corns are in huge demand. Well-roasted sweet corn on flaming coal and covered with lemon juice and salt has a distinct and delicious taste. It makes the rain somehow more enjoyable. This is why the demand for sweet corn has become sky-high these days.

Sweet Corn is widely cultivated in Koraput district. Sweet corn grown in the district is known for its yummy taste. However, with limited market facilities and processing units unavailable in Koraput district, growers of sweet corn in the region are badly affected by the distress sale of their products.

Sweet corn is grown on around 5,000 hectares of land in Nandapur, Laxmipur, Potangi, Semiliguda and Koraput block in the district. There is bumper production and huge demand of the product. But, after the harvest, the farmers have to undertake double hard work for its marketing as well. 

In the absence of any marketing facilities for the product in the district, they have to transport and sell these products in different markets. The Agriculture Department is allegedly not providing any kind of encouragement to the farmers. As a result, the farmers are forced to sell their products to the traders of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh at cheaper rates.

“As we don’t have any marketing facilities, traders from the neighbouring states and wholesalers in the market are bargaining with us. Without having any marketing alternative, we are forced to sell our products at cheaper rates,” said Purusottam Gouda, a farmer.

“With the cost of production increasing every year, the distress sale of the sweet corn has hit us hard,” said another farmer.

Several farmers have demanded Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Mandi like facilities for sweet corn in the State.

“The climate in Koraput is conducive for sweet corn cultivation. Proper marketing facilities should be provided to the farmers so that they get a good income. As a result, the cultivation of the product will grow more and more in the district. The State government should buy the products from the farmers and make arrangements to sell those products in the market,” said Sarat Pattnaik, President of Koraput Farmers’ Union.

Meanwhile, as per the District Agriculture Department, sweet corn cultivation could be included under Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme.

“The Department will help farmers in dealing with various insects affecting the cultivation and provide other technical supports,” said Baikuntanath Behera, Koraput District Agriculture Officer.