HP tomato growers bitter
SOLAN, Oct 2 — If it was the poor quality seed last season, this time it is the high-grade tomato from Nasik which has badly hit hundreds of small tomato growers in this district.



NSS volunteers to help the aged
SHIMLA, Oct 2 — About 500 National Service Scheme volunteers of St Bede's College here will reach out to the aged to solve their day-to-day problems during the current International Year of the Aged.

Woman, son killed in accident
HAMIRPUR, Oct 2 — A woman and her minor son were killed on the spot while another person was seriously injured when a truck rammed into them near Mandap in the district today.

HP tomato growers bitter
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SOLAN, Oct 2 — If it was the poor quality seed last season, this time it is the high-grade tomato from Nasik which has badly hit hundreds of small tomato growers in this district.

A number of tomato growers can be seen resorting to distress sale of their crop. Many roadside vends can be seen between Dharampur and Vaknaghat on the Kalka — Shimla highway.

The district has earned a name in producing not only the mushroom crop but also off season tomatoes and vegetables.

The tomato growers lament that the year has been bad for them as earlier their off season crop had failed due to the poor quality seed supplied by an outside company. This time they were facing tough competition from the tomato crop from Nasik which had virtually captured the markets in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. They alleged that the authorities had failed miserably to check the sale of sub-standard tomato seed resulting in losses to the farmers.

Binder Kumar, a tomato trader of Vaknaghat, said there were hardly any buyers for the tomatoes produced in the area. The market in Delhi was flooded with tomatoes from Nasik which were bright red in colour and had a longer shelf life.

Tula Ram, a grower, said last year he had sold his produce at the rate of over Rs 5 per kg to the trader, but this time he was getting only between Rs 2.50 to 3 per kg.

Another grower, Nand Ram, from Vakna village, said the farmers were not only hit due to the large-scale production of tomatoes in Nasik, but had suffered also because of some unidentified disease in their plants which had dried the plants at the bearing stage. He said the growers of the adjoining villages of Chhousha, Dumehar and Paplol were also facing similar problems.

Sat Pal, who was selling tomatoes for Rs 4 per kg on the roadside near Kiari (Kandaghat) said he had produced over 400 boxes of tomatoes last year, but this time the yield was hardly 170 boxes.

Mr Gian Dutt Sharma, a commission agent at Chakki More, said the rates of tomato crop here had fallen because of a good crop in Nasik. However, he had some buyers from Punjab, Sonepat, Jind, Bhiwani and Dadri negotiating with him.

He said the crop output in the area was less this time. He had sold 50 tonnes of tomato every day last year, but his daily sale had fallen to about 20 quintals this season. Growers of the nearby villages, including Bhojnagar and Naina Tikkar, sell their crop to him.

Agriculture experts, however, have pointed out that one of the causes of damage to the tomato crop in the monsoon was the lack of scientific plantation and drainage in the fields. This had caused the "back rot" disease in the crop.

Meanwhile, hardly any progress had been made by the authorities in taking action against the suppliers of the poor quality seed "Akash" to the tomato growers here. The police has registered a case and the licence of the local seed dealer has been suspended.

It is alleged that poor quality seed worth about Rs 35 lakh was sold to the growers in the district.

NSS volunteers to help the aged
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 2 — About 500 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers of St Bede's College here will reach out to the aged to solve their day-to-day problems during the current International Year of the Aged.

Dr Shonali Sood, officer-in-charge of the NSS in the college, said that the volunteers would take care of the medical aid and various other problems of the aged.

The NSS raising day was celebrated in the college yesterday by organising inter-college declamation and choreography competitions. The Education Minister, Mr I.D. Dhiman, was the chief guest.

Sister Melba, Principal of the college, said that the college established in 1903, was one of the oldest insitutions of the state and was providing quality education.

Nandita Sharma of the St Bede's was adjudged as the best speaker in the declamation contest, Amit Lal of Himachal Pradesh University, stood second and Satish Aunta of the Evening College secured the third place. St Bede's bagged first position in the choreograpy competition.

School workshop with difference
Tribune News Service

PARWANOO, Oct 2 — Defining objectives of learning organisations (schools) were the highlight of a workshop at Eicher School here today.

Discussions were carried out in at least nine different groups on different topics under the supervision of Anne Stadler, an America based internationally renowned Human Resource consultant. Conference, reading habits, developing good values, learning is life, books, how to take more responsibility and how to make better students were among some of the topics for discussions in the groups.

Interestingly, the gathering on importance of books recorded the minimum attendance. The highlights of discussions in 15 groups will be compiled in a book. Following discussions, all students and parents met at a common platform where personal insights on different aspects were taken up.

Reflecting on what they learnt and personal expressions at the end proved the worth of the exercise as the range of expressions varied but were still relevant to the topic. Self realisation with societal responsibilities in mind emerged as consensus recommendation.

A student pointed out that self realisation with help of teachers and parents pointing out the weaker aspects of personality could be beneficial in betterment. Others recommended against oversensitiveness for good friendship and for systematic planning.

Talking to The Tribune, Ms Anne Stadler said that one of the main objectives was to help people organise with love, care and take up responsibility. The plan was interesting in schools if one understood the complexities of work in a school. Ms Stadler lauded the host school for developing studying techniques to sustain interest among students.

Mrs L. Vaidyanathan, Principal, participated actively in the workshop.

Woman, son killed in accident

HAMIRPUR, Oct 2 (PTI) — A woman and her minor son were killed on the spot while another person was seriously injured when a truck rammed into them near Mandap in the district today.

The tragedy occurred when the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle and it rolled 50 ft down into a gorge, police sources said.

The deceased has been identified as Rama Devi (19) and her son Ajay Kumar (3).

The injured person was found lying in bushes and was rushed to a hospital.