DHENKANAL: Some of Odisha’s best quality mangoes are grown in Dhenkanal and export quality certified. But tepid response to the growers’ demand for cold storage year after year and lack of training on value addition has left them high and dry. The district farmers grow a large varieties of summer fruits like watermelon, bael, lichi, plum, jamun and jackfruit besides mushroom in tonnes but in the absence of storage facilities the growers are forced to sell the produce at much lower prices to prevent rotting.The Government apathy does not stop here. The farmers are neither trained nor awareness created at the block level to enhance their capacity building. Practically, farmers do not have any knowledge on aspects like value addition to their products. Just about two SHGs out of 12,000 procure these fruits and prepare pickles and jams which are later sold in ORMAS-sponsored melas and the returns distributed among farmers.Ironically, nearly 8,000 SHGs are availing of funds under Mission Shakti and SGSY. Their performance is not monitored either. On the other hand, the SHGs allege that their training has come to a halt and skill upgradation is a dream. The Government is yet to reopen Ama Gaon Haat which remains closed for over three years.Discouraged with the little returns and heavy losses that they incur on account of damage, some farmer groups under the banner of Kapilas Mango Growers Association have resorted to selling mangoes at exhibitions in Bhubaneswar once a month. A mango and jackfruit grower Sitakant Jena said he grows 10 tonnes of fruits a year but is forced to sell them at cheaper prices. Mangoes are sold for ` 5 a kg and watermelon at ` 4 for two kg at crisis times.Deputy Director of Horticulture Haribandhu Biswal said there is a proposal to set up a cold storage at ` 3 crore but there are no takers. This despite the fact that Government had announced 40 per cent subsidy for those who come forward to set up one in the district. At a personal level, two persons have made efforts to set up preservation units in Pranamurga and Ileijanga villages. Plans to open a cool chamber is also on the cards. Kapilas Mango Growers’ Association secretary Ghanshyam Padhy said around 50 tonnes of mangoes would be ready in a few days. “The growers are not getting logistics support from the Government because of which we are unable to export,” he added.
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