Aizawl, December 21, 2009: This Christmas is going to be sour for Mizo passion-fruit growers as things may not turn so festive for the cultivators of the fruits in Mizoram because the Mizoram Food And Allied Industries Corporation Ltd (MIFCO) had a huge debt to them amounting Rs.44,23,958. Considering the media as their last resort, the passion fruit growers met journalists at Aizawl Press Club pleading to assist them in getting paid their prices of labour.

One passion fruit grower expressed in despair that they had approached the state chief minister but the latter had informed them that from his part he had done everthing regarding the payment.

The cultivators had also met the state agriculture minister and industries minister in this regard.

"We are totally ruined by the state government, now we could not even start our occupation (growing).

Where shall we go now?", asked one cultivators in despair.

They had informed the media that though agriculture and industries ministers told them that they would get it things done on December 15 last but till then not a penny has been paid to them.

After learning that they have been cheated, the cultivators again met the agriculture minister.

During this time, the minister had informed them that he had finished doing necessary things from his part.

As thing turns from bad to worst, the leaders then went to industries office and were told that because of less financial sanctions from the centre, prices of passion fruits sold to MIFCO would not be paid very soon.

Having completely surprised, they then again met the MIFCO chairman only to learn that even 50 % of their pending payment could not be paid at the moment.

"We never faced problems in other years, but now as the new government was installed we have to face various problems.

We used to get paid just after one month," one cultivator blamed the state government for their negligence.

Most of the villagers are from remote locations coming with high expectation that the government would fulfil their promised before Christmas but their expectation have turned into dust.

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