“More than 300 farmers involved in strawberry cultivation in Siliguri sub-division, Kalimpong district and parts of the Dooars are staring at a bleak future,” said a state agriculture department official. Normally, more than 30,000kg of strawberries are consumed during the tournament, filling the cash tills of the growers. “More than 300 farmers involved in strawberry cultivation in Siliguri sub-division, Kalimpong district and parts of the Dooars are staring at a bleak future,” said a state agriculture department official. The Centre for Floriculture & Agri-Business Management (COFAM) of North Bengal University, has also been promoting strawberry cultivation in the region. COFAM practical demonstrator Amrendra Kumar Pandey agreed with the farmers, saying this was the first time strawberry farmers of north Bengal were facing such huge losses.

Source: The Telegraph June 10, 2020 22:52 UTC