MAPUSA
The struggles of the Aldona farmers are unending. Just when the paddy crop was ripe for harvesting, they had to face an unusual problem - lack of harvester machines to reap the crop.
The farmers, who were already worried about the loss of crop due to low pressures-induced incessant rain in October, have to now contend with a shortage of machines to harvest the mature crop.
A visit to the vast fields in the village shows the pitiable condition of the crops with `lodging' taking place at several places. At other places, farmers complained that the paddy has sprouted damaging the crop.
Lodging is the bending over of the stems near ground level of crops, which makes them difficult to harvest and can reduce the yield.
"With great difficulty, we had cultivated the fields during the pandemic. And now when it's time to taste the success of our hard labour we are put to immense hardship by the government which has failed to send machines to harvest our crops," said Sameer Gadekar, a farmer from Naikavaddo, Aldona.
He said he did call the local MLA but that did not translate into positive action and most farmers in his area were still waiting for the harvester machines.
The farmers who were expecting a bumper crop were first hit by the late October rain which brought excess water in the fields. And just when some of the crops were ready for harvesting the absence of harvester machines have given them a second shock.
"They promised to send us the harvesters but several days have passed and there is no sign of the machines. Our crop has fallen on the ground and at some places, the paddy has even sprouted. Government is telling us to cultivate the fields but when we need help they don't stand by us," said Neil Vaz, another farmer in the village.
Yet another farmer from Corjuem informed that one harvester was brought in the village but it was not functioning properly.
"One machine is not enough for our village. We need at least two to three machines so that all the crops are harvested at one go. We have made several appeals but the government has failed to listen to our call," said the farmer, who requested not to be identified.
All for farmers, problem to be resolved: MLA
Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo said that he was doing everything within his powers to bring the harvester machines and help the farmers of his constituency and expected the problem to be resolved in a day or two.
He said the arrival of machines was delayed because of the late rains but as of now, four machines were already on the job in different areas in the constituency.
"As an MLA of Aldona, I am trying to help the farmers as I have been doing all these years. But some people are trying to politicize the whole issue and blaming me. How am I responsible if there is a delay in the arrival of the machines? I am not a service provider but I am making an effort to get the machines as soon as possible," Ticlo told The Goan.
Two service providers - Adarsh Shetkari Sangh and Gram Vikas Saunstha - supply harvester machines to the farmers in the State.
The Gram Vikas Saunstha takes care of fields in Carona, Patim and Calvim while Adarsh Shetkari Sangh looks after the rest of the constituency.
The Aldona MLA also said that he has spoken to the Deputy CM and Agriculture Minister, Babu Kavlekar and even the director of agriculture about the issue and expected to tide over the problem soon.
