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Mango growers left with bitter taste this season
The king of fruit has turned sour for farmers this season. Hindrances like lack of remunerative price and unreasonable wastage levied by the market authorities are turning things bitter for mango farmers.
Warangal: The king of fruit has turned sour for farmers this season. Hindrances like lack of remunerative price and unreasonable wastage levied by the market authorities are turning things bitter for mango farmers.
The Lakshmipuram fruit market in the district is said to be the second largest in Telangana. As the season commenced this month, fruits not only from Warangal, but also from neighboring districts are being brought to this market.
Farmers bring their yield to get a better price, but their hopes are dashed with adverse conditions prevailing in the market yard. Poor farmers are charged 10 kg wastage for a quintal, apart from the additional 10 per cent commission.
But the Marketing department officials don’t seem to show any concern for the farmers. This year mango was cultivated in 30,000 hectares in the district.
However, impact of the drought conditions along with unseasonal hailstorms shrunk the crop. The crop is being brought to the market by farmers with high hopes but they are unable to get an encouraging price.
Official records show that Rs 50, 000 is paid for a ton. However, farmers lament that they get less. Devender, a farmer from Maripeda said that they get only Rs 30,000 or less.
Another farmer, Ravi, claimed that a 10 per cent in weight was reduced in the name of wastage and an additional 10 per cent commission was also charged.
Only 1,700 tons of mangoes have been sold so far against 3,000 during the same period last year. Prohibiting the usage of carbide also reduced exports, felt Srinivas, another farmer. He criticised the government for not showing any alternative for the use of carbide.
Another farmer, Sambaiah, while expressing the same opinion claimed that merchants from other states were not showing interest to buy mangoes following a ban on the usage of carbide.
These traders have proposed to the state government to allow China powder as alternative for carbide. Farmer’s association leader Krishna Reddy has demanded stringent action against merchants who exploit farmers in the market.
Secretary of Marketing department Ajmira Raju has assured that all steps would be taken to ensure minimum remunerative price to farmers.
“If anyone complains about the wastage and commission, we will take action”, he stressed.
