Govt should protect gingelly farmers: CPI-ML

Nizamabad: Gingelly or Sesame oil and seeds are widely used in Indian dishes and also Hindus use this oil to perform pujas at home and temples. Actually, gingelly oil is sold at Rs 215 per liter and seeds at Rs 80 to 200 per kg at grocery stores. But those businessmen procure gingelli products by paying low price, leaving farmers in distress. For instance, businessmen procured gingeilly seeds at Rs 7, 500 to 6,500 per quintal at Nizamabad market yard, whereas they procured a quintal for Rs. 15, 000 to Rs. 16,000 last year, so this year farmers were unable to recover their investments.

In Nizamabad district farmers grow gingelly crop on nearly 12,500 acres and produce anywhere around 65,000 quintals crop per year. This year large number of farmers preferred dry crops and sowed gingelly crop since it consumes less water and also helps farmer to tide over power cuts. But unfortunately, the hail storms and un-expected rains damaged the crop at harvesting season and reduced the yield. Every year, a farmer got five to six quintals yield per acre, but this year they got only two to three quintals per acre, a drastic fall in production.

Adding to their woes, the farmers got very low procurement rates for gingelly crop. Lokolla China Gangaram, gingelly farmer, Padkal village of Jakranpalli mandal said that they used to sow paddy every year but this time they shifted to gingili crop because this crop got good price in the market last year. He said last year gingelly crop was sold for Rs. 15,000 to Rs 16,000 per quintal and even the state government advised farmers to sow dry crops like gingili this year since it consumes low water and power.

Another farmer, Ella Llinganna, of Jakranpally mandal said that he sowed gingelly crop in three acres and just got 4.5 quintals yield, due to hail storms and unexpected rains, finally he got Rs 14,000 rupees after all the expenditure. Linganna said this very meagre amount for him and alleged that businessmen have formed a syndicate and exploiting farmers in Nizamabad market yard, despite a e-bidding system in place, The Nizamabad market committee officials said last year they paid 14,400 highest rates and 6,600 lowest rates; 10,800 rupees as average rate per quintal to gingelly farmers, but this year the rates have fallen drastically, despite ‘e-bidding system’.

V Prabhakar, CPI(ML) new democracy State secretary and Raitukuli Sangam district leader alleged that the businessmen have joined hands with officials of Nizamabad market yard and are paying low rates for gingelly farmers, whereas the gingelly oil and gingelly seeds were fetching them Rs 215 per liter and 200 per kg in their stores. Prabhakar demanded the government to announce the support price for gingelly crop and protect the gingelly farmers in Nizamabad district.

By shyam madavedi