Strawberry cultivator’s hope blighted with frustration
Kokrajhar: Amarsingh Basumatary is utterly disappointed. The hopes of the strawberry cultivator in Chirang is now blighted with frustration. But why? The 21 days nationwide lockdown has changed the course of his hard working time.
Three months back these crops grew huge hopes in his mind as 17,000 saplings on a plot measuring around 3 bighas drew no less attraction with fruitful crops at Salbari along the Indo-Bhutan border. But only to be nipped in the bud. PM Narendra Modi announced nationwide lockdown from March 25 which will be over by April 15. The yield was good. But only to be damaged under the impact of the lockdown. No transportation, no market---all traders have down the shutters. What to do: he is at his wit’s end. No solution in sight.
“The investment was handsome indeed. Some plants were brought from Himachal Pradesh. I engaged 5 workers who spared no pain to grow the promising crop. But my hopes are shattered because of the lockdown,” said a visibly upset Amar.
Strawberry crop is cultivated during the season of winter which begins from January to May month every year. He said, “It’s the peak season, I could pluck 80-90 kgs of yields. But what would I do? I can’t sold out the fruits in the market. No taker. No trader for these fruits worth Rs 3.5 lakh. The lockdown might extend. But by then these fruits would damage. No mechanism to process these.”
The strawberry fruits have good demand in Gelephu(Bhutan), Kokrajhar, Kajalgaon, Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Guwahati. But the markets are not opening apprehending the outbreak of COVID-19.
He recollected a time as he sold these fruits at Gelephu in Bhutan at Rs.500 per kilogram, Rs.300-350 per kilogram in Assam. But this time the lockdown has not allowed him to take that course.
He appealed to the government to help him make up the loss he incurred. He was not covered by the PM Fasal Bima Yojana. No hope at all now. How safe and secured are the peasants who can concentrate on cultivation to give the sector a fresh lease of life.
Other Contents by Author
The vibrant festivities of Gwthar Bathou San (Bathou Divosh) echoed across the districts of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) and the entire state as it was celebrated with traditional fervor on Tuesday. The state government declared this day as a state holiday, emphasizing the significance of preserving and cherishing the rich cultural heritage associated with Bathou tradition.
Gwthar Bathou San-2024 (Bathou Divosh) unfolded with religious zeal on the second Tuesday of the Magh month, a day that will now be commemorated annually as a full-fledged holiday. The celebrations resonated with the essence of festivity, bringing together people from diverse communities in the spirit of unity...
KOKRAJHAR: The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) observed 81st birth anniversary of its founder president Agdari Baneswar Basumatary on Wednesday with day-long programmes across the state of Assam.
In Baksa, the central committee of the ABSU in association with Baksa district committee observed the birth anniversary of Agdari Baneswar Basumatary at Koklabari near Mushalpur that saw a well gathering amongst the citizens.
Assam cabinet minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma, MCLA Mantu Boro, ex MCLA Anip Basumatary, and senior citizens attended and offered rich floral tributes to the great leader.
ABSU president Dipen Boro said that the students union is working dedicatedly for the welfare and...
KOKRAHAR: A sense of alarm has gripped the Jharbari area after a timber smuggler was discovered dead in a firing incident during the early hours of the morning in Kokrajhar. The incident occurred along ride no. 1 under the Jharbari range of the Haltugaon forest division in Kokrajhar district, where the smuggler was fatally shot while transporting logs on a cycle from deep within the forest.
The deceased timber smuggler was identified as Hemanta Narzary, hailing from Gyanpuri village under Serfanguri police station. The body of Narzary has been transported to Barista Medical College and Hospital for a postmortem examination.
In response to the incident, local residents of the area have...
KOKRAJHAR, July 16: The Dotma HS school playground in Kokrajhar witnessed the exciting kickoff of the third U13 Football tournament, organized under the mission of Bodofa Sustainable for Change, on Sunday. The tournament aims to identify and nurture budding sports talents in the region and was organized by the Kokrajhar district committee of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU).
The inaugural ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Khanindra Basumatary, the General Secretary of ABSU, and Apurna Narzary, a renowned international women's footballer, who were the chief guest and special guest, respectively. They jointly inaugurated the tournament, marking the beginning of an eventful...
Kokrajhar: 23rd May, 2023-The event, organised by the Skill, Employment, and Entrepreneurship Department (SEED), was held on May 23, 2023, at the Auditorium Hall of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Kokrajhar. The event witnessed the presence of the Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Shri Pramod Boro; Executive Member of BTC, Shri Wilson Hasda; Executive Member of BTC, Dr Nilut Swargiary; Advisor to the SEED, Shri Ranjan K Baruah; Former MLA Tamulpur, Shri Chandi Basumatary; Joint Secretary SEED, Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Rajbongshi, ACS; Council Head of the SEED, Shri Pranjit Das; Project Head Assam of Anvil Cables Private Limited, Mr. Ujjwal Chaudhary; BTR...
Apurna Narzary, an international women's football player, has been nominated for the Emerging Player award for 2022-23 by the Sports & Youth Welfare department of the government of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). Narzary has represented India in several international events and is the daughter of Biswajit Narzary of Khagrabari village in Kokrajhar district. The award will be presented to her during the Baokhungri festival celebration at Baokhungri Hill site near Harinaguri in Kokrajhar. The award includes a citation, traditional Aronai, and a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakh. The festival also featured a Hills trekking competition and traditional food showcase competition.
On the second day of the fourth Asian Kho Kho Championships at Tamulpur in Baksa district of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), India continued its dominant performance. Both Indian men and women registered wins against their opponents, creating strong sporting amusement. Indian women had an easy win against Malaysia, scoring 79 points in the first innings against Malaysia’s 15. Captain Nasreen and Archana Majhi were at their attacking best, helping their team to earn maximum points in front of the roaring crowds.
Indian captain Nasreen thinks Nepal and Bangladesh could pose tough challenges for the Indian team, which has been unbeaten so far. The men's match between India and Iran was a...
The ongoing High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) final examinations in the state of Assam have been marred by a serious concern over the leakage of question papers. The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has expressed its strong resentment over the issue, especially in light of the English subject question paper that was leaked on March 6th.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, ABSU's Assistant General Secretary and Education Secretary, Dinesh Brahma and Swmaosar Basumatary, condemned the irresponsible and unfair conduct of those responsible for conducting the exams. They expressed their concern that the Mathematics subject question paper was widely circulated on social media just...
Jadav Payeng, also known as the Forest Man of India and a Padma Shri awardee environmentalist, has called for a week-long global lockdown to strike a balance in the ecosystem. Speaking on the theme ‘Indigenous Knowledge System’ at the Bodoland International Knowledge Festival at Bodoland University in Kokrajhar, Payeng expressed his serious concern about global warming and urged global leaders to take action towards conserving the environment and nature.
In his speech, Payeng emphasized that the concept ‘God is nature and nature is God’ and shared his personal experience of how giving a lockdown for a week in a year globally could help restore the balance of the ecosystem. He has also...
A five-day mountaineering training program, organized by the Directorate of Sports & Youth Welfare department of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government, begins on Thursday at the Dangdupur Hills Site in Kokrajhar. Over 60 participants from different districts of the BTR is participating in the training program, which will focus on capacity building and imparting basic mountaineering skills along with other adventure activities such as rock climbing, rappelling, chimney climbing, jumar climbing, high rope activities, trekking, and paragliding.
The training program is aimed at building self-confidence, increasing flexibility and concentration, improving social...
Add new comment