Cashew farmers of Srikakulam district are eagerly waiting for the interaction program with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy hoping that their problems would be solved. As part of his three-day ‘Indiramma Bata’ program in Srikakulam district, the Chief Minister would interact with the cashew workers on Saturday in Ramakrishnapuram village under Palasa mandal.
The district administration is making all arrangements in the village to make the program a grand success. During the interaction program, the Chief Minister will have an opportunity to directly know the problems being faced by the cashew farmers in the district. They are expected to explain issues regarding cultivating the crop, marketing facility, minimum support price and so on. The Chief Minister is likely to issue directions to the officials in solving the problems. He is likely to have an overall review about the cashew cultivation, production, cashew industries, processing units, employment generation, welfare schemes for cashew farmers and so on.
It may be stated here that Srikakulam district has congenial atmosphere for cultivation of cashew crop. The present extent of land under cashew cultivation is 23,355 hectares with a production of 13,759.63 metric tons with average productivity of 600 kg per hectare. There are some 110 cashew factories and 134 cashew processing units in Palasa Mandal in which around 29,000 persons are directly employed and thousands of others are indirectly depended on the industry for their livelihood. To avoid controversies between management and workers, the Labour Department is playing a key role in upward revision of wages for every two years for which an agreement was made in advance.
Several welfare programs and schemes were also being implemented for the welfare of workers. Special measures were being taken by the Labour Department to prevent Child Labour System in the industry. If child labourers are found working in the industries, the Department was booking cases against the erring managements and huge penalties were levied on the managements and these amounts are deposited in the name of child labours.
The State government is encouraging the cashew farmers in all respects and implementing several welfare schemes through the department of Horticulture. Several schemes like Cashew Rejuvenation Program, Conversion of Cashew Processing Units from Roasting method to Boiling Method & Supply of Plant protection equipment viz. Power Tillers, Taiwan Sprayers with government subsidy are being implemented for welfare of cashew farmers.
Under Cashew Rejuvenation Program, 50 per cent financial assistance is provided by the government against an estimated expenditure of Rs 20,000 per hectare. Besides, 40 per cent subsidy is also provided by the government in conversion of cashew processing unit into boiling method. So far, an amount of Rs 19.20 lakh financial assistance has been given by the government under the scheme during this financial year. Plant protection equipment like Power Tillers, Taiwan Sprayers etc. are being supplied with 50 per cent subsidy to the farmers for which Rs 42.60 lakh was spent so far as financial assistance during the year.
Cashew farmers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Chief Minister to interact with him and expect that there may be a permanent solution to their problems like cultivation, marketing and assured minimum support price and so on. (NSS)