Deogarh: Orange farmers in Deogarh are forced to go for distress sale even in the peak season. Reason: absence of marketing avenues and food processing units in the district.
Though the district collector had promised to purchase orange from farmers, no one has contacted the farmers for the purpose. Even the state government undertaking Omfed had assured the farmers to buy their orange, but has not made any move in this regard so far.
Farmers are a worried lot as the ripe fruits are falling off from trees and getting rotten due to untimely rain. The only option left for them thus is distress sale.
An orange farmer Jagannath Pradhan said, “There is no marketing facility for orange resulting in distress sale among farmers. Though this year orange harvest is good, we are worried. We contacted the Horticulture department as well as collector. But no help has been given yet. All we have got is promises. In the recent rain, many oranges got damaged after falling from tree. Farmers are worried how to repay their loans.”
Another farmer Surendra Pradhan said, “Oranges worth approximately Rs 15 crore was cultivated in the district. As the Collector had told us to purchase the fruit, we did not sell oranges to anyone."
Girija Bhusan Satapathy, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Deogarh, said, “As the local market is flooded with Nagpur oranges, the demand for Deogarh orange has fallen a bit. Even in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, Nagpur Oranges are available at Rs 20-25 per kg.”
“The week-long bad weather took its toll and oranges were damaged. I did a spot verification and informed the higher-ups. Omfed has promised to purchase the fruit," he added.
Satapathy, however, added that farmers are not showing any interest in learning how to preserve orange.
The fruit is cultivated in Kundeigola, Khaliposhi, Koradaposhi villages in Kundeigola panchayat; Chadeimora, Saghaposhi, Jharaberini, Khilaberini, Kanjiaama and Nuapatna in Chadeimora panchayat; Budhapal, Dalaka, Chalaka, Thianala and Sendha in Budhapal panchayat besides Para and Aunli in Para panchayat of Reamal block. The fruit is also grown in Thianala and Saruaali in Barkote block.