BERHAMPUR: Lack of Government support has proved a bane for betel vine growers of Ganjam district. With the middlemen raking in the moolah, the cultivators are left high and dry.Official sources said around 200 acres of land in Chhatrapur, Hinjili, Kukudakhandi, Chikiti and Rangeilunda blocks are under betel vine cultivation. The produce including Gundi, Rasi and Bada varieties are sent to Benaras, Mirzapur, Tunda and Agra besides southern districts of Odisha.Even as farmers engage only eight to 10 decimals of land for betel cultivation, the profits are nearly four to five times the investment. The farmers, however, are not able to get the benefit. In the absence of marketing facilities, it is the middlemen who make the most of the bargain.Bibhuti Jena, president of Isaneswar Pana Chasi Sangha in Rangeilunda block, blamed it on lack of transportation facilities and non-cooperation from the Railways. According to a study by horticulture experts, around three tonnes of betel leaf was sold every week with the transaction amounting to ` 14 lakh besides the local business of ` 3 lakh.The business in the district was stated to be around ` 4 crore per annum.It has, however, come down to ` 5 lakh now. This is being attributed to shift in the preference of the people towards ‘ghutka’.VS Rao, a wholesaler, said while earlier he would sell 100 baskets, each weighing 20 kg, everyday, it has now come down to 12 to 14 baskets.The farmers also rued lack of Government’s initiative in introducing modern techniques in betel vine cultivation. Some unknown diseases have been damaging the crop but no help has come their way.Horticulture experts admitted to the fact that research works being carried at the State-level are not being transferred to the grassroots.Besides transportation, the betel farmers are demanding better infrastructure including supply of bamboo and opening of mandis.
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