Madhya Pradesh Minister Interviews Crorepati Farmer. In Loss, Say Others

The minister’s interview with the farmer hit the headlines

Bhopal:

A Madhya Pradesh farmer claims to have offered tomatoes price eight crores this yr. This prompted a go to to his home by the state Agriculture Minister.

In distinction, in lots of districts throughout the state, farmers are dumping tomatoes on the street attributable to low costs.

Minister Kamal Patel arrived on the Sirkamba village in Harda district, which additionally occurs to be his dwelling district, to interview Madhusudan Dhakad, the surprise farmer.

Mr Dhakad says he planted chilli in 60 acres of his land, tomato in 70 acres and ginger in 30 acres. He deserted conventional crops like wheat and soybeans, hinting to the minister that that is what labored for him.

The minister’s interview with the farmer hit the headlines, however farmers from different districts have not been so fortunate.

NDTV caught up with Sadu Verma, a farmer, who stated, “Exports are blocked that is why the costs are down. We aren’t even getting 20% worth, incurring heavy losses. We have now offered tomatoes for Rs 600-700 per carat. Right now we’re getting Rs 80-90 per carat; we’re in loss for two years now.”

In Jhabua, farmers are upset attributable to low worth and have dumped tomatoes on roads.

Not solely tomato, papaya can also be being offered for Rs 3 to 4 kg. Farmers say, overlook the revenue, they can not even recuperate enter prices.

Kalim Sheikh from Khargone is upset over his bumper Papaya.

“Manufacturing is nice however we’re getting Rs 4-5 per kg, we will not export. For us it is a large loss, unable to even get the enter price,” stated Mr Sheikh.

A state-of-the-art mega meals park was inbuilt Khargone in 2016 at a value of 127 crores, however farmers say it has been of little use.

Senior Horticulture Improvement officer PS Badole from Khargone stated, “Due to coronavirus we’re unable to export. That is why farmers will not be getting the specified worth.”

Dinesh Patidar, a neighborhood farmer, stated in Khargone farmers are in bother. “We do have a meals park nevertheless it’s of no use for us.”

The issue can also be one in every of storage.

Manufacturing of fruit and veggies has elevated by six to eight per cent every year. However there was no improve within the capability to retailer this stuff which perish simply, they are saying.

There are 163 chilly storages in Madhya Pradesh with a capability of 10 lakh tonnes however the fruit manufacturing is greater than 75 lakh tonnes and in 31 districts out of 52 there aren’t any chilly storages in any respect.

In 2018 underneath Operation Greens scheme, there’s a provision of grant of as much as 50 per cent for chilly storage, however solely 15 proposals from the state have been despatched to the Centre thus far.