watermelon farming couldn't get buyers growing spread of COVID-19

watermelon farming couldn't get buyers growing spread of COVID-19:©Provided by Bodopress/Rwnchang

Watermelon farming: couldn't get buyers growing spread of COVID-19. Thousands of acres of watermelon harvest has been left to rot in several BTC Udalguri districts as traders are finding it difficult to procure the produce for want of trucks due to the nationwide lockdown to stem the growing spread of COVID-19, caused by a novel coronavirus.

Watermelons, cultivated in an area of around eight thousand acres in Assam, BTC Udalguri districts, ripened, then rotted as farmers couldn't get buyers to sell their produce.

Having reaped good returns over the last few years, the family had chosen professional and scientific farming methods with thin sheets covering the soil to check weeds and reduce water consumption.

"It would cost us five thousand rupees to clear the field. I have lost eighty thousand and I don't have any more money to spend," said Ms Delaishri.

"There is no business. What we usually sell in three days now takes ten days. Fruits are perishing and we are facing losses," said one of the traders

(BTR नि खुंगिरि मानिनां प्रमुद बर' बिथांनि सरकारा अदालगुरि जिल्ला आव हाजार हाजार बिधा खेरमुजा (Watermelon) आबाद मावना फाननो हायै थासारिखौ नुना Agriculture Department Director BTC जों सावरायना फाननायनि बेबसथा खामना होनायखौ नुनो मोनदों । 

बेरा फारसेथिं रायजोफोरा सरकारनि बे बिथांखि खौ बरायदों । नाथाय दुखु गोनां बाथ्राया बेसोदि, गोबां आबादारि फोरहा नो आबादथिलियाव आबाद एबा फिथायफोरा सेवग्लुंजोबफ्रामबाय जायफोरफोरहा सेवाखै बिसोरबो खम बेसेनाव गारि गंसे 3.5 टन गाहामजोंसो 2500 रोजा रां गाहामल, मोनो अब्ला आबाद खामना आफादनि मुल धोहोनखौनो मोननो हायाखै होन्नानै गोबां आबादारि फोरा दुखु फोरमायदों ।)

The watermelon farming, hit hard by the lockdown, have been demanding from the state and central governments to acknowledge this crisis and assess the losses to assist them.