Farmers in Great Nicobar Threaten Inparticular Starvation Strike over Delayed Copra Procurement

Tarun Karthick

Campbell Bay, 23 June 2023

The farmers of Great Nicobar have expressed their rising issues over the delay within the procurement of copra at Minimum Support Price (MSP) and have issued a discover to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, urging speedy motion. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, the farmers highlighted the guarantees made through the Chief Secretary’s go to in February 2023, the place the graduation of copra procurement was assured inside two months.

Despite an preliminary announcement that the Honourable Lt. Governor would inaugurate the procurement on May fifth, 2023, the ceremony was postponed with no communicated rescheduled date, inflicting misery among the many farmers. With roughly 85 tonnes of copra prepared for procurement, the farmers are dealing with further challenges as the standard of the produce deteriorates through the ongoing monsoon season.

A gathering held on June thirteenth, 2023, with the General Manager of ANCOFED Ltd. additional compounded the farmers’ issues, because the promised graduation of copra procurement by June fifteenth, 2023, has not been initiated.

To categorical their grievances, the Great Nicobar Farmers Association has declared an indefinite starvation strike, scheduled to start on June twenty eighth, 2023, if beneficial motion isn’t taken earlier than June twenty seventh, 2023.

The farmers emphasize the perishable nature of copra and its restricted shelf life, making speedy procurement essential. They have accomplished all essential formalities, together with registration on the e-samridhi portal.

In response to the letter, the farmers count on the Chief Secretary to take immediate motion to handle their issues and provoke the copra procurement course of.