Farmers in Darrang District Face Setbacks Due to Poor-Quality Pumpkin Seeds
Severe Losses in Pumpkin Farming
Mangaldai, Dec 16: Numerous progressive farmers from various villages in the Rowmari and Debananda gaon panchayat (GP) areas of Darrang district are experiencing significant losses in their pumpkin crops, reportedly due to the sale of inferior seeds.
In an interview, Gobinda Deka, a resident of Debananda village and a recipient of the best farmer award from the State Agriculture department, shared that he and fellow farmers from Garukhuti, Kaniatari, Ghatar Aag, Barachuba, Debananda, Satkhali, and other villages had embarked on commercial pumpkin farming using a high-yield seed variety.
Similar to the previous year, they commenced cultivation in August with the high-yielding seed EW 137F1. “The seeds initially thrived across approximately 12,000 bighas of land. We anticipated a harvest of 35 to 40 quintals per bigha, but the actual yield was only 5 to 6 quintals per bigha,” Deka expressed with disappointment.
“Last year, we successfully sold our pumpkins in the state market and neighboring states like West Bengal, earning around Rs 30,000 against a production cost of Rs 6,000 per bigha. The Chief Minister even praised our harvest on social media. However, this year, we are grappling with a severe market crisis, as buyers who inspected our fields have not returned,” he added.
Other farmers, including Lalit Deka, Pankaj Medhi, Ratul Bora, Sunendra Deka, Mantu Deka, Mainuddin Ali, and Somesh Ali, shared similar sentiments.
In response to a petition from the farmers, a team from the district Agriculture department and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Darrang, recently visited the affected areas. They collected samples of the pumpkin seeds and soil for laboratory testing, but the results have yet to be communicated to the farmers.
The farmers have accused traders of deceiving them with substandard seeds and agricultural products. They are demanding a thorough investigation and legal action against the unscrupulous traders.