Pune: Viral Misconception About Figs Sparks Concern Among Purandar Farmers
Pune: Viral Misconception About Figs Sparks Concern Among Purandar Farmers
Pune, November 16, 2024: A viral social media reel claiming that figs are non-vegetarian has triggered widespread debate online, amassing massive views within hours. However, agricultural experts and farmers are calling for caution, highlighting the potentially damaging effects of such misinformation on the livelihoods of small-scale farmers.
Rohan Ursal, representing the Purandar Highlands Farmers Producer Company Ltd., issued a strong appeal to social media influencers, urging them to conduct thorough research before posting content that can influence public perception. He emphasized that while the video partially references the pollination process of some fig varieties involving wasps, it overlooks key facts.
In India, most figs cultivated—such as the GI-tagged Purandar Figs, Poona Figs, Deanna Figs, Krishna Brown, and Turkish Brown—are self-pollinating. These varieties do not rely on wasps for pollination, making them distinct from imported dried figs, which constitute 99% of the dry fig market and involve wasp pollination.
“Such claims, though catchy, can severely affect the reputation of crops and damage farmers’ incomes,” Ursal stated, adding that detailed and credible information is readily available through agricultural departments or online searches for “self-pollinating figs.”
He concluded with a heartfelt plea to influencers to avoid chasing viral success at the expense of farmers’ livelihoods. “While you gain likes and views, farmers face the brunt of these misleading claims,” he said.
This incident underscores the need for responsible content creation in the digital age, particularly when it impacts industries like agriculture that sustain millions.
