Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 03 October 2023
In a heartfelt plea, Mr. E S Rajesh, the Pramukh of Panchayat Samiti Campbell Bay, Great Nicobar Island, has sent an urgent request to the Honourable Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, seeking a reevaluation of the COPRA procurement process under the Price Support Scheme.
In his letter addressed to the top authorities, Mr. Rajesh highlighted the long-standing issue of COPRA non-procurement that has been haunting the farmers of Great Nicobar for over a decade. Despite the recent relaunch of the Price Support Scheme, the promises made regarding COPRA procurement under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) have not been fulfilled, leaving the farmers disheartened and struggling.
Mr. E S Rajesh shared with the authorities that during the first round of procurement, transportation was initially a significant achievement, with COPRA being transported in containers aboard the newest ships in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, issues arose when COPRA stored in open port areas within containers for an extended period suffered damage due to rainwater leakage, significantly deteriorating its quality.
Quality inspections conducted by NAFED Ltd. deemed both damaged and undamaged COPRA containers unfit for procurement, leading to advice from ANCOFED Ltd. for farmers to rent godown facilities in Port Blair for re-sorting. This added financial burden and further delays in the procurement process.
Farmers were also forced to sell their produce in the open market at nearly half the price offered under the Price Support Scheme due to NAFED Ltd.’s delayed approval for re-sorted COPRA.
Mr. Rajesh urged the authorities to modify the procurement parameters for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, taking into account unique climatic conditions, coconut size discrepancies, and the challenges in producing pure white copra. He also emphasised the need for multiple quality categories and for finalising the procurement process at the local level in Great Nicobar to reduce farmer losses and streamline the process.
In conclusion, Mr. Rajesh implored the government to implement these recommended modifications to ensure the success of the Price Support Scheme and alleviate the distress faced by farmers in Great Nicobar.
The current situation calls for immediate intervention, as farmers continue to incur significant financial losses, and the promised support remains elusive.
The farmers of Great Nicobar look to the authorities with hope, expecting swift and decisive action to rectify the situation and provide them with the support they deserve under government schemes.