Unable to transport harvested turmeric to Imphal, say farmers

    29-May-2020
|
By Our Staff Reporter
NONEY, May 29: Saying that the continuing lockdown has affected their agricultural business and produces likely to go waste, farmers from Longmai-1, Noney who plant turmeric at hill slopes appealed to the State Government to address their grievance at the earliest.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, one such farmer from Longmai-1 under Noney district along Imphal-Jiribam road, Gaidemjeiliu Kamei (40) said that planting seasonal fruits and vegetables at hill slope is a part of their tradition which help them in providing bread and butter for the families and education for the children.
As planting seasonal fruits and vegetables only couldn't suffice the needs of running a family, an NGO for women only christened as  'Riangluang Organic Farmers Produce' was formed in 2017 and under this NGO, about 350 self-help groups plant turmeric, gingers and king chilly at Tamenglong and Noney hill ranges, she continued.
The turmeric grown last year was harvested recently, however, due to the imposition of Nationwide lockdown, the farmers are unabled to transport the harvested turmeric (50 metric tonnes), which are already dried and bundled up, to Imphal for sale, Gaidemjeiliu Kamei said and added that there is also no facility to package the turmeric as there is not a single mill in the area to grind the turmeric.
She then appealed to the State Government to arrange a measure to transport the harvested turmeric to Imphal.
The turmeric was planted by about 1,500 women of Noney and Tamenglong districts at a hill slope located at their respective villages. And owing to the lockdown, the dried turmeric is stockpiled at their respective homes.
Turmeric is sold at the rate of Rs 90 to 100 per kilo, she added.
Expressing apprehension that fungus might start growing onto their produces if it is store as it is for another 2-3 months, she urged the State Government to address their grievance at the earliest.