Mizoram passion fruit growers in dire straits

AIZAWL, Dec 23 – Christmas poised to be sour for Mizo passion-fruit growers as the Mizoram Food and Allied Industries Corporation Ltd (MIFCO) has failed to pay them their dues, amounting to nearly Rs 44 lakh. Turning to the media as a last resort, the passion fruit growers met journalists at Aizawl Press Club pleading for assistance in this regard.

They had approached the state Chief Minister, agriculture minister and industries minister in this regard, but to no avail.

“We are totally ruined. We could not even start our occupation (growing). Where shall we go now?”, asked one cultivator in despair.

They had informed the media that though the Agriculture and Industries ministers had assured them that they would get things done by December 15, till now not a penny has been paid to them.

After the said date passed, the cultivators met the Agriculture minister again.

But this time, the minister informed them that he had done everything on his part.

Then on visiting the Industries office, they were told that because of limited financial sanction from the centre, the MIFCO dues may not be cleared very soon.

Shocked at hearing this, they then met the MIFCO chairman only to learn that even 50 per cent of their due bills could not be paid at the moment thus causing considerable suffering among

The farmers, mostly from remote locations, are certainly not going to be merry this Christmas.