Sonai: Cauliflower crop failure pushes farmers to the brink, loss in lakhs

In the Bengali film, Hirak Rajar Deshe, polymath Satyajit Ray wrote the lyrics of “Katoi Ranga Dekhi Duniyay”. A line from this song- shonar foshol folay jetar dui bela jotey na aahar, depicts the condition of farmers in India. The literal translation of this line means the ones who grow the harvest of gold, can not even afford two meals a day.

Sonai area of Cachar is particularly known for their rabi crops. The farmers of this winter crop earn a seasonal profit, given their good name in the market because of the quality of vegetables. Not everyone can make a fortune out of it, few farmers from the Sonai’s Bagpur Part 1 have complained of lakhs of loss during this season and have said to kill themselves for this huge loss.

On Thursday (February 6), local farmers from Sonai’s Bagpur Part 1 presented their grievances before the media, blaming substandard seeds for their failed crops. Sahanur Islam Laskar, one of the affected farmers, shared that he and his relative Asad Ahmed Laskar had cultivated cauliflower on three bighas (approximately 7,588 sq. metres) of farmland. They had purchased two varieties of seeds—”Johnny F1″ from Clause Company and “White Dex” from Sakata Company— from Laskar Seeds Store in Sonabarighat market.

According to Sahanur, the shopkeeper, Sirajul Haque Laskar (also known as Kalachand), assured them that these seeds were of superior quality. However, while the plants grew, they failed to yield any cauliflower, leaving the farmers with no returns on their investment.

Sahanur stated that after reporting the issue to the shopkeeper, he was repeatedly assured that company representatives would compensate him. However, after months of waiting, no such compensation has materialised. Frustrated and financially devastated, he has now decided to seek legal action against the seller and has appealed to the district administration, agriculture minister, and chief minister for intervention.

“If no action is taken against the seed companies and the shopkeeper, and I don’t receive any compensation, I will have no choice but to end my life—along with my family of 14,” Sahanur said, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

Sahanur, who estimates his loss at ₹3 lakh, is not alone in his struggle. Other farmers, including Badar Uddin Laskar and Ain Uddin Laskar, have also reported similar crop failures after purchasing seeds from the same shop.

The affected farmers are now demanding strict action against the seed supplier and immediate financial relief to compensate for their losses.