Mango growers in Navsari are terrorised by organised theft
Mango growers in Gujarat's Navsari district are facing a surge in organized mango theft, causing significant losses. Farmers report daily losses of 2000-3000 kgs, with thieves selling the stolen fruit at drastically reduced prices in neighboring Surat. Despite complaints to the district administration and police, farmers feel unprotected, fearing violence if they intervene.
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Not so long ago, kids stealing a mango or two from an orchard in summer and getting chased out by an old gardener used to be an ideal depiction of innocence and childhood fun, but for mango growers in Navsari district in South Gujarat, organised mango theft has now become a major cause of concern.Farmers in eastern part of the district have now sought administrative protection to stop what they call 'organised gangs' of thieves from pillaging their orchards.Speaking to ET from Nagdara village in Navsari, Jitubhai Satem a mango grower and vice chairman of the local farmer's cooperative body complained that the farmers are facing unprecedented scale of crop theft this year.'They are striking both at night and even in broad day light and stealing mangoes,' Satem said adding that on an average daily the farmers of the area are losing anything between 2000 to 3000 kgs of mangoes to the thieves. 'Every unit of 20 kgs fetch anything between Rs.1500 to Rs.2000, which these thieves are selling at Rs.500,' Satem added.'Young boys from the local farm labourers have formed gangs of five six members and are carrying out these thefts and we are helpless on the face of their strikes,' Satem said adding that these gangs are now selling these mangoes at a rate much below the market price upsetting the market equilibrium.'They are just crossing over to Surat district and selling the mangoes to the traders who buy it at one third of the price,' Satem said adding that they have already made representations to district administration as well as state home department.Speaking to ET, Navsari district collector Kshipra Agre said that while the district had witnessed major flowering in mango orchards, erratic climate has resulted in reduced fruition leading to major surge in mango prices.'I have received these complaints both during my field visits as well as in my office and have asked local police to enhance their vigil to contain the situation,' Agre said.Meanwhile the farmers are unhappy with the administrative reaction. 'Everytime we go to the police, they ask us to catch the thieves and bring them to police. But if we make any such attempt, it will lead to violence that we can't handle,' Satem said. 'My orchard has been raided this afternoon by some boys wearing black masks,' he added.
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