The local people of Gajapati district have blamed the district administration for its inefficiency to curb skyrocketing price of vegetables in the district.
No special focus on vegetable production by the Agricultural Department for the last 10 years has led to consistent fall in production and rise in their prices, alleged the locals.
“Earlier, vegetables like brinjal, tomato, beans, parval and cauliflower, etc were exported to other districts, but now the locals are depending on several districts of Andhra Pradesh, especially Srikakulam, for vegetables for last five years. The administration is not providing adequate support for vegetable production in the district,” the locals said.
Besides, the only cold storage of the district has been lying defunct for last 10 years. “The Mandis established at Mandal Sahi of Rayagarh district with an expenditure of crores of rupees have failed to serve its purpose for not being used. If the administration provides subsidy in vegetable production, the farmer will again evince interest in vegetable farming,” they said.
It is observed that the villagers of Kerandi, Ratini and Amara, who used to be known vegetable growers, have started selling their agricultural lands and shifting to other occupations. The farmers of Kashinagar, R Udaygiri and Chandragiri are also sharing the same fate.
The price of agricultural lands has gone up, as the agricultural lands are illegally being converted into private lands, which is adversely affecting farm production. However, the administration has only been a mute spectator to the worsening situation.