As Bengal gram prices fall, farmers turn to govt. for help
The Hindu
Over 11 lakh quintal stock in the district has to be liquidated
Like every year, farmers in the drought-prone district cultivated Bengal gram, an alternative to tobacco, in over 2.25 lakh acres during the rabi in November-December, unmindful of the disaster that was awaiting them. When the second wave of the pandemic struck, the prices of both JJ11 and KAK2 varieties fell by 10 to 15% leaving the farmers in a fix. A few of them, especially tenant farmers, who sold their produce at the time of harvest itself(March-April) were fortunate as the price of JJ11 variety ruled close to the minimum support price of ₹5,100 per quintal in the market. The others who did not sell the produce then are ruing their fates as the transactions have come to negligible levels now, said All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee Prakasam district Convenor Chunduri Ranga Rao. Only those are parting with their produce who have no other option but to liquidate the stocks, he said.More Related News