DC Assures to Allow Selling of Sugarcane before Pongal at Bhatubasti and Aberdeen Bazaar

Port Blair, Jan 12: Fearing difficulties in selling this year, due to various COVID-19 restrictions, the sugarcane farmers of Makka Pahad, New Bimblitan, Pema and adjoining areas today contacted the Member of Parliament of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and mentioned that they want to sell sugarcane at Bhatubasti and Aberdeen Bazaar before Pongal, as it is done every year.

Sugarcanes, as it is known to everybody is considered spiritual during harvest festival Pongal, as it signifies prosperity and well-being.

Highlighting the concerns of Sugarcane farmers, Kuldeep Rai Sharma today spoke to the Deputy Commissioner of South Andaman and said that it is crucial to allow Sugarcane farmers to sell Sugarcane at Bhatubasti and Aberdeen Bazaar, considering the financial condition of these farmers, who depend largely upon selling of Sugarcane before Pongal, and for this they work hard for past several months.

The Member of Parliament mentioned that farmers of South Andaman have already suffered heavy losses during first and second waves of COVID-19, hence allowing these farmers to sell Sugarcane at Bhatubasti and Aberdeen Bazaar will help them financially. Selling of Sugarcane before Pongal has both spiritual and financial aspects, said the MP.

Apart from this, the Member of Parliament mentioned that easy availability of Sugarcane in the market has emotional value for the people of South India, especially Tamil Nadu. 

He mentioned that as Sugarcane is one of the main features of the Pongal celebrations in South India and every South Indian family feels happy to have it in their home during Pongal. 

In reply the Deputy Commissioner assured the Member of Parliament that sugarcane farmers will be allowed to sell Sugarcane at Bhatubasti and Aberdeen Bazaar but they have to maintain social distancing and follow all COVID Appropriate Behaviour.