Lockdown effect on Muskmelon crop, farmer's produce rotting infields

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, musmelon farmers of Yamunanagar have received a hit for this season as they have not been able to supply their produce like the previous year resulting in rotting of the fruits either in the fields or mandis.

Yamunanagar: Like everyone in the country, the lockdown has also impacted adversely muskmelon farmers in Yamunanagar. Muskmelon from Yamunanagar is exported to various parts of the Indian subcontinent. But this season, due to the lockdown the sweet muskmelons are rotting in their fields itself.

Muskmelons exported to all parts of the country

The muskmelon crop takes 6 months to mature. There is a high demand for muskmelons in Delhi-Panipat, and especially in Chandigarh, but the lockdown has forced hotels and restaurants to close down and the sweetness of these muskmelons is rotting either in fields or the local mandi.

Investment of farmers not returned

Muskmelon farmers, who are used to earning handsome profits for their crop, are not even able to earn back their investment. Piles of muskmelon adorn empty fields. Farmers are sincerely looking after their crop in the sincere hope that maybe they will be able to sell their muskmelon crop as usual, But the lockdown and adverse weather seems to have spread dampness on these aspirations.

Lockdown caused heavy loss-Farmer

Farmer Ramanjeet Singh told correspondents that the lockdown has created a very bad condition for farmers. Corona has been the cause of huge loss to all. Despite a high and good produce too, there is no sale of their crop. This muskmelon used to e sold in markets of Chandigarh-Panipat and Delhi at prices of around 30-35 Rs per kilogram, But today they lie rotting in the fields, the little that is being sold too, is fetching meagre prices.

He further said that he has not seen such a recession in the market in the last 9 years. The condition of these farmers is so bad that they look set to lose even their investment in the crop. Ramanjeet Singh further said that the state and the union governments are making many announcements, but revealed that no real aid has reached the farmer on the ground level.

The farmer in question, Ramanjeet also said that the farmers feel that they should abandon fruit cultivation and begin wheat farming. This is because at least the government buys them. But the same government does not think for fruit-vegetable cultivators. He revealed that a loss of around Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh, has been incurred, per acre.

Appeals to the government for help

Farmer Sachin informed correspondents that this time the loss is too much the muskmelon crop is rotting in the fields. There are no buyers in the mandi, due to which their investment too won't be recovered. So, the muskmelon crop farmers to hope that they will receive the aid of some variety.