Jute farmers at mercy of middlemen

Srikakulam: Jute farmers in the district are facing a tough time in the current harvesting season. They are unable to get reasonable prices for their produce as the Jute Corporation of India (JCI) had failed to start Jute Purchasing Centres (JPC) and cashing in on the situation, traders were exploiting farmers by quoting low prices.

Jute is being cultivated in an extent of 20,000 acres in Regidi, Vangara, Rajam, Ponduru, Jalumuru, Kotabommali, Amudalavalasa, Santhakaviti and Etcherla mandals in the district. Jute harvesting season started almost three weeks ago but JCI has not started purchasing centres, and as a result farmers are forced to sell their produce to local traders.

Previously, JCI had started 13 purchasing centres under Vizianagaram JCI’s regional office limits in the two districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.

Even though the market price for jute fibre is more than the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the Centre, traders are not paying the actual price to farmers.

For the 2015-16 season, the government had announced MSP for O-Top, Middle and Bottom varieties as Rs 2,762, Rs 2,682 and Rs 2642 per quintal but in the open market the price for each variety is more than Rs 400 to Rs 500 above the MSP.

Meanwhile, the officials are blaming farmers for not taking their produce to purchase centres. Speaking to The Hans India, JCI regional manager G Ramana said that reluctance on the part of farmers to sell their produce at purchase centres coupled with other reasons has led to irregular operation of purchase centres.

“To cultivate jute crop, Rs 12,000 is required but yield is not good this year due to adverse climatic conditions,” said Rayipelli Nagabushanam, a farmer from Unukuru village in Regidi mandal.

Meanwhile, farmers from Arasada and Magguru said that they were unable to get reasonable prices for their produce every year as traders have been paying only about Rs 1,900 to Rs 2,200.