The Centre’s ban on the use of plastic sachets as packing material of gutkha has posed a threat to the livelihood of around 50,000 families of south Orissa’s Ganjam district, engaged in cultivation of kewda flower, the essence of which is used in production of the chewing tobacco.
Apprehending a grim future due to the closure of many gutkha industries in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of the ban, a large number of kewda cultivators, on Thursday, staged demonstration in front of the office of the revenue divisional commissioner (RDC) here.
In a memorandum addressed to the President of the country, the Ganjam Zilla Kia Chasi Surakhya Sangathan (GZKCSS) has sought an alternative method for use of kewda, so that they can eke out their livelihood.
The oil of the kewda, a thorny flower, is used in preparing the gutkha and Ganjam district was catering to the oil requirement of the gutkha industries in the country.
The kewda oil is extracted from the processing of the flowers in the distilleries. Around 200 distilleries, locally known as 'bhatis', were engaged to process the flowers.
"The entire chain has been disrupted and the kewda farmers in Ganjam district have been hit hard”, said Natabara Sahu, secretary of GZKCSS.
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“Uncertainty also looms large on their future as the Central government is planning to impose a blanket ban on gutkha in the future. At this juncture, we are headed for a grim future and seek some alternative way to sell our products’', he added.
Kewda flower grows in at least four coastal blocks of the districts- Chhatrapur, Rangeilunda, Ganjam and Chikiti and it is the source of livelihood for 50,000 families in these blocks.
Besides gutkha, the oil of the flower is needed for the perfume industries, said V V Rama Rao, extension officer, Technology Support Centre for Kewda Industry (Berhampur).
“The kewda enterprises of the district are positioned as important market players in the perfume and gutkha industries providing quality assurance in both national and international markets”, said Bishnu Prasad Panda, team leader of Access Development Services, an organization working for improvement of the sector.
The turnover of the sector is estimated at around Rs 100 crore, he stated.