Mafia active in Goan cashew industry: Tawadkar

Cashew mafia is operating in Goa and local cashew nuts producers are being duped, former Agriculture Minister and BJP leader Ramesh Tawadkar has alleged. He alleged that traders from outside the state are buying local cashew nuts for 100 rupees per kg and selling them for 3000 rupees a kg in the international market.

Tawadkar also complained that there has not been a hike in support paddy since 2007.

Farmers are paid only 10 ruppes per kg for paddy and this needs to be increased.

Tawadkar said that he wanted to create awareness on the prices of cashew and paddy all around the Goa and he would launch an awareness campaign in Canacona on 26^th of January.

He wants the chief minister Pramod Sawant to to regulate cashew market.

Meanwhile, All India Employee Federation President Upaso Gaonkar

accompanying Tawadkar said these issue could affect ZP elections.

If the time comes farmers would boycott the elections.