Odisha Mushroom Growers’ Federation (OMGF) Ganjam unit secretary Abhimanyu Nahak strongly condemned the discriminatory and apathetic attitude of the State Government towards mushroom growers in providing relief and compensation during post-Phailin period.
Addressing mediapersons here, Nayak said Odisha secured first position in all India level during financial year 2011-12 in mushroom production as per a report of the National Mushroom Research Centre, Solan (Himachal Pradesh). He said Odisha is currently producing, on an average, 12-15 metric tons of mushrooms round the year. There are 25,000 mushroom farmers in the State but over 50,000 youths in the State are directly or indirectly employed, he informed.
Similarly, Ganjam district which is having 30 mushroom seed production centres and over 300 mushroom producers producing eight tons of mushrooms a day have provided indirect employment opportunities to more than 4,000 unemployed youths.
But these farmers are currently in great financial distress as they have incurred huge loans from village headmen or Sahukars for growth of mushrooms. Phailin and subsequent incessant rains devastated their farming. However, though the mushroom farmers have sent several memorandums to the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister and the concerned authorities, they are yet to be provided any assistance, lamented Nayak.
According to an estimate, each mushroom farmer in the district has sustained a loss between Rs 1 lakh to five lakh. The Government should, therefore, announce a special relief package, including free distribution of quality mushroom seeds and raw materials to farmers immediately to restore mushroom production in the district, he said.
