FPCs unable to reach out to farmers
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 18 2020:
Even though agriculture and related activities are said to be exempted from the purview of the current lockdown, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and other service providers are unable to reach out to farmers.
One Shanta Nahakpam, representative of a service provider called freshies fresh.com said that orders/notifications issued by the Government in connection with the lockdown did not mention anything about FPCs and service providers except that agricultural activities would be exempted.
It is a matter of grave concern that farmers and FPCs are kept unconnected even as the paddy sowing season is approaching fast.
If the two key stake holders are kept separated any longer, the State's agriculture sector would suffer heavy losses, Shanta said.
Last freshies fresh.com alone exported ginger worth Rs 1.50 crore.
But this year, the joint ginger export of MOMA, NERAMAC, freshies fresh.com and other FPCs would not reach even Rs one crore, he said.
Application was submitted at [email protected] yesterday seeking curfew pass but there has been no response till date, he lamented.
Chongtham Shanta, another representative of an FPC said that they are unable to distribute seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other inputs to farmers on account of the lockdown.
He then urged the Government to give permission for delivering these inputs to farmers.