Lack of organic tag hits tribal farmers

Now they are getting paid only Re.1 more per kg. of vegetables at rytu bazaar. At present, vegetables brought to rytu bazaars in the city are given Re.1 more than that of farmers from the non-tribal areas.

Getting certification for organic produce will help tribal farmers increase their income as they mostly grow vegetables and other crops without using chemical inputs.

At present, vegetables brought to rytu bazaars in the city are given Re.1 more than that of farmers from the non-tribal areas.

“Tribal farmers get paid only Re.1 more per kg that too after taking up the case with officials. But certification will ensure at least Rs.5 more,” says P. Devullu, secretary of Sanjivini Rural Development Society that works for seed preservation and promotion of traditional farming in the Agency area of the district.

As many as 520 tribal farmers bring vegetables to the rytu bazaars with the turnover estimated at Rs.5 lakh to Rs.6 lakh a week.

He says 80 per cent of farmers in Araku, Anantagiri and Paderu regions are growers of organic food by nature. But lack of any certification is leading to problems sometimes with some questioning the claim and asking whether they have any certification, he points out.

Certification for organic farming is issued by a committee from the Agriculture University after ascertaining that no chemical inputs are used within 5 km. of the farm, says Mr. Devullu.

At the first International Day of Indigenous Peoples organised by the State Government here, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has assured tribal people that organic certification will be obtained for their produce increasing value and getting more income to them.

MVP stall

The Traditional Farmers stall at MVP Colony rytu bazaar launched in 2007 to sell 72 tribal products including millets, varieties of rice and ragi, has not received the support promised, says Mr. Devullu.

The promised capital of Rs.4 lakh for purchasing a van for transportation has not materialised.

Registration of the farmers as society has been pending with Horticulture Department for a year now.

Without such steps the farmers running it are a disappointed lot as they can not actively take up the work at the stalls or go back to their villages, he says.

Encouragement will help them put up stalls at Sitammadhara and the Steel Plant from where consumers are coming to buy the products, he adds.