North Kerala farmers face a double whammy

COVID lockdown, non-payment of dues leave them in dire straits

Farmers in north Kerala have been hit by the double whammy of COVID lockdown and non-payment of dues for produce auctioned at the Agricultural Urban Wholesale Market at Vengeri for over six months. Scores of them have not been reimbursed for the vegetables and fruits, especially banana and plantain, sold at the market since August last. “My payment of ₹4.75 lakh is pending for nearly 10 months. Now I am forced to take a loan and even pledge gold ornaments of my wife to carry on with farming,” said Saji Penakkavil, a farmer. About 200 farmers from Malappuram, Kannur, Palakkad and Kozhikode have registered with the Vengeri market to sell produce harvested on their land. The non-payment of dues has compelled many to sell their produce at low prices to local vendors or even leave vegetables rotting on farmlands because the Horticorp has stopped transport subsidy.