DAMAGED ROADS HIT MARKETING OF CROPS IN PITHORAGARH DISTT

PITHORAGARH: After suffering crop loss in the heavy rains that wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand on October 17-19, over 1500 farmers growing rajma and potato in Munsiyari sub-division of Pithoragarh district are staring at income loss after failing to take their harvested crops to nearby markets due to damaged roads in the area. Because of damaged roads, farmers have to bear extra transportation costs to take their crops to nearby markets.

“The road connecting our village to the market is damaged on a stretch of about 5 kms. The transportation vehicles couldn’t ply on them due to the damaged condition. We would have to carry the crop on mules at a cost of about ₹450/quintal from our village to the market where all traders are there,” said Kammu Rawat, a rajma and potato grower in Bona village.

Rawat said over 450 families of three villages -- Bona, Tomik and Golpha -- produce rajma and potato earning an average annual income of about ₹10,000. “But first suffering damage to crops and now increased transportation cost, our incomes will come down by about 50%,” said Rawat. According to district agriculture department, about 1,500 quintals of potato and 500 quintals rajma are grown in Munsiyari area.

The farmers fearing loss said, “This year the crop has been good but they would fail to get a proper earning.”

“These days we are busy in cutting grass for cattle before the snowfall but after 10 days we will start harvesting our potato crop. Despite good crop of potato this year, the organic variety will cost higher due to increased transportation cost,” said Puran singh Rawat, another farmer.

When contacted, SDM Anil Kumar Shukla said the roads will be repaired soon. “Works have been started to repair the damaged roads. The places where the roads have been washed away, new roads will be constructed which will take some time.” he said.