Through your esteemed local daily, I the undersigned on behalf of the “Ginger Project” owners from the Phek Region would like to draw the kind attention of the DAN Government of Nagaland and the concerned department in respect of the declaration of 2006 as the “Year of Farmers”. I further need immediate clarification of the following questions and doubts which extremely creates ‘Puzzle/Confusion and fooling’ the farming community as well.
Sir, to be very honest, focusing special emphasis on the region of Phek, almost all the inhabitants of the said region being the farmers express joy and indeed a high spirit of enthusiasm speaks volumes of happiness in their hearts when the good DAN Government declared 2006 as the ‘Year of Farmers’.
Meanwhile, majority of the educated unemployed youths including frustrated youths specially Alcoholics and Drug Abusers once more came up to the Streamline where Parents were hopefully expecting eradication of social evils prevailing in the present society at the right time. However, after a long period of struggling for the benefit of their hard labour rendered out, some unexpected outcome displays on the platform of the “Year of Farmers”. The question arises at various corners which voices: why the Government intends even to politicize the agriculture products by applying a policy of “Profit Motive” for the sake of some vested political leaders? If the Government cannot adopt any measures to overcome the wrong and evil saplings of political propaganda created by some few vested selfish individuals, why unnecessarily declared the whole precious (365 days) year as meaningless for a mere daily feeding stomach cultivators by consuming their energies and times like a “hungry lion/tiger”?
Dear readers, following are some of the evidences implemented at the said region. Sir, in view of the Government declaring 2006 as the ‘Year of Farmers’, the District Agriculture Office Phek had issued several required kilograms of Gingers to all the desired cultivators specially the Project Undertaker; the ginger distribution was carried out on loan basis @ Rs. 15/- (Rupees fifteen only) per kilogram. The department distributed the same. I, the undersigned, also the Project Undertaker with my Brother as my partner, availed of the same. And against the Government policy of “Cultivate for the double profit” presently we had carried out the said project measuring approximate of 10 acres of land was sadly decaying.
As stated earlier, we bought the same on loan basis @ Rs.15/- per kilogram in the name of the ‘Year of Farmers’ through the courtesy of Agri Product Marketing Committee (APMC) in 2006. However, when the colourful year expired, the farming community had certain Projects of Ginger ready to export out through the applicable Agencies, expecting to gain something from it. But contrary to the expectation, all those cultivators faced a state of frustration for the APMC, Nagaland Unit in consultation with the Agri Product Commissioner, Nagaland and all the District concerned DAOs had fixed the price @ Rs.6/- (Rupees Six only) per kilogram.
We call upon the kind attention of the concerned Officers specially the Chief Minister to turn down their heads and open eyes so as to have a thorough observation of the suffering farmers and do something at the earliest before the whole farming community rises up creating uncountable controversies in regards to the ‘Year of farmers’.
I sincerely beg the apology to the various concerned Officers and Departmental Heads including concerned APMC dignitaries if my write up hurts the sentiments of their proceedings.
I indeed, after having enough observation, honestly would like to cite one good instance in respect of my write up. Recently in view of good cultivated products from the said region of the said items, one ‘Marwari’ from Dimapur positively contacted to purchase the Ginger products @ Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) per kilogram was carried out consulting one Agriculturist from Phek Village, Vekhruneyi Venuh. To export the product at such good rates automatically creates an enthusiasm for the Farming Community of the region once again. However, to our surprise, the said confirmed dealer was warned with dire consequences by the APMC, informing him if he carried out the ongoing proceedings he would be in a state of danger. Having a fear psychosis of occurring unwanted incidents, he fled and we have not heard of his whereabouts as of now.
Therefore, presently all the hardworking Project Owners face untold sufferings at all steps of their work. Meanwhile, after hearing uncountable opinions from the farmers, I finally opted to rename the “Year of Farmers” 2006 as “YEAR OF FAMINES”.
In my concluding part of my write up, I sincerely appeal to all the like-minded citizens to come forward with positive attitude so as to eradicate all those prevailing anti-social elements and evil instinct in our Society.
Kuzhovesa Soho
Phek : Nagaland
