Mango distress sale despite good harvest

BHAWANIPATNA: In spite of a good mango harvest this year, farmers of Kalahandi are forced to make distress sales due to the absence of market linkage and cold storage facilities.
"I have been producing mangoes for the last eight years but have never benefitted of it. This year 80 quintals of mangoes were produced in my farm and I got only Rs 80,000 after selling it at Rs eight per kilogram," said Krushnavatar Deo, a farmer from Bhawanipatna who has produced 13 varieties of mangoes in his five acres of farmland this year.
"If we consider the labour cost and other expenses I need to have earned a minimum of Rs three lakh out of it," Deo added. At present, while traders purchase mangoes at Rs eight to ten per kilogram from cultivators, they sell it at Rs 15 to 20 per kilogram in the open market. There are no cold storage units in the district.
Out of 40 varieties of mangoes, this year, there has been bumper production of regular varieties like Amrapali, Malika, Dasheri, Langda, Bombay green and Baiganpali. Trees in 5,000 hectares have borne fruits this year while 10,000 hectares of land were cultivated by more than 800 farmers in the district.
Mango cultivation, promoted through National Horticulture Mission (NHM), depends heavily on market linkage. "Market linkage is the biggest hurdle for mango and other horticulture crops. If market yards can be developed through the Orissa State Agriculture Marketing (OSAM) Board in different areas for storage and sale of mangoes, it will boost the rural economy," said deputy director of horticulture, Sudhakar Sahu.