SUDESH BHOSLE |NT
VASCO
Farmers from Verna, Majorda, Pirni, Morod, Senaulim and its surrounding areas who vend their produce along the NH17 Verna- Pirni have welcomed the decision of the state government to set up markets off highways under its common minimum programme which was announced recently by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as part of its common minimum programme formulated by coalition partners.
The traditional farmers who are cultivating vegetables and fruits in their farms located along the Verna- Pirni highway and also in the villages of Majorda, Morod and Senaulim have no proper market to sell their produce.
The traditional farmers cultivate ladyfinger, brinjals, leafy vegetables, cluster beans, tender black eyed beans, pumpkin, radish, chilies, elephant foot yam, spondias mangifera (ambada), cucumber onion, bamboo shoots, local mushrooms, pumpkins besides fruits like mangoes, bananas, watermelons, pineapples, jackfruits, cashews, custard apples, chikoos, coconut, guava and others. The traditional farmers however are forced to sell their produce on the roadside where they are exposed to accidents.
“The traditional farmers have to sit in the hot sun and even in the rain due to the absence of a proper market”, said Nestadin Carvalho, a resident of Senaulim Verna. “If the state government implements its decision to set up markets for traditional farmers in order to vend their locally grown produce under the common minimum programme then it would be a great help to the farmers”, said Carvalho.
She was of the opinion that the markets should be located close to highways, since it would be an easy access for customers to buy necessary farm produce. “Setting up of markets under the common minimumprogramme would serve the purpose only when it would be easily accessible to customers”, said Carvalho.
“As the state is witnessing major infrastructure developmental works, it is a need of the hour to set up markets for farmers who vend their produce near the highways”, informed a traditional farmer.