HUBBALLI: The large expanse of land utilised for the cultivation of the ‘King of Fruits’ - the mango – Dharwad resulted in the district being assigned the fruit under the ‘One District, One Crop’ scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises, itself a part of the Centre’s ambitious ‘Atma Nirbhar’ initiative.
Under the Centre’s marquee scheme, mango cultivators across Dharwad district were to receive financial and technical support, such as infrastructure for storage, help with branding of their crop and products and in marketing their produce. Karnataka State Mango Development Marketing Corporation Ltd (KSMDMCL) and the department of horticulture, among other government agencies were tasked with supporting the farmers.
The situation on the ground in Dharwad, however, is very different. The unseasonal showers in February and the fog, coupled with the soaring mercury levels in March and April, have dashed the hopes of the farmers of reaping a bumper mango crop this year. On the other hand, the failure on the part of the authorities to educate the farmers about the benefits they can avail of under the Centre’s flagship scheme has resulted in ryots confused.
“KSMDMCL had assured me of providing carton boxes, crates and pots at subsidised rates. At the training session held for us last month, we were told that we could submit a list of our requirements on the corporation website. But the website has been defunct for months now. They said that it would be fixed soon, but nothing has been done so far,” Girish Kerur, a mango farmer in Dharwad, told TOI.
KSMDMCL managing director CG Nagarju had, on March 13, had issued an order empanelling five industries to supply 1.5kg and 3kg carton boxes at subsidised rates to farmers. “Mango cultivators can get these boxes at half the price by furnishing the required documents,” Nagaraju had said.
Suresh Akalawadi, another mango cultivator in the district, said that he visited the horticulture department office seeking information about availing off subsidy on boxes and other equipment. “But I could not get the information I wanted. Dharwad mangoes have been famous for decades’ together. But the board is focussing extensively on Kolar and Srinivasapura taluks, where cultivation of mangoes has gathered pace only in the recent past,” Akalawadi rued.
Deputy director of the department of horticulture, Dharwad Kashinath Bhadrannavar said that the harvest was yet to start, and distribution of equipment yet to start in the district. “Our assistant directors have been kept well-informed about the scheme. It is possible that those in the lower echelons are not aware of all the details but efforts are being made to educate them as well. Mango cultivators can submit their list of demands at the office of our department’s assistant director at the taluk headquarters,” Bhadrannavar said.
KSMDMCL MD Nagaraju, however, was not available for comment.