Mandya farmer destroys mulberry plants

MANDYA: After sugarcane farmers, now it is the turn of sericulture farmers to destroy their crops. A farmer in Mandya uprooted mulberry plants grown in one acre using earthmovers on Sunday.
MC Channegowda, hailing from Maraliga village of Maddur taluk, cited fall in prices of silk cocoons as the reason for this. “Sericulture is no longer lucrative. I am completely dependent on farming.However, I have no option but to destroy the plants as prices have seen a steady fall over the past few months, while the cultivation expenses are on the rise. In the past couple of months I sold cocoons for a meager price of Rs100-150 per kg. This is a sad day for us. But we are left with no other option,” he said.
Another sericulture farmer Tammegowda from Gudidoddi village said that he abandoned farming as it is not lucrative. “Now, I work as a security guard in a diary farm in Gejjalagere. I never wanted to abandon farming. Coming from a farmers’ family, I am ashamed of taking up this job. But, instead of ending my life I chose this,” he said.
He blamed the Union government’s move to reduce excise duty on imported raw silk from 25% to 10% is the reason for the price fall.
“These politicians are killing farmers of this country. They are forced to abandon their crops or are forced to move to cities in search of jobs,” he added.