Entry of pvt players will hit agriculture sector: Farmers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 22

Amid the debate around the pros and cons of three agriculture-related Bills passed by the Union Government, local farmers say leaving wheat and rice market at the mercy of private players will be detrimental to the whole sector.

Citing the example of high vegetable prices, they say the growers get low prices while purchasers have to shell out heftily to buy veggies. “Take potato for instance. Its prices has increased to Rs 35 per kg within three months since its harvesting whereas the farmers had got not more than Rs 4 per kg. Being a non perishable item, potato is largely stored by traders. Even during harvesting days, its price did not drop below Rs 10,” said Harman Singh, a potato grower from Jandiala.

According to another farmer, Navjeet Singh, tomato growers had to sell their produce for Rs 2 per kg whereas buyers in urban areas had been purchasing it for Rs 20, the lowest retail price in the city this year. “The vegetable market is solely dependent on private buyers. If big corporate houses are involved, the subsequent removal of restrictions on stocking would turn the scales against the farmers and consumers alike.

“Most of the farmers are primarily dependent on wheat and rice crops. They sow vegetable as the third crop to supplement their income. It is illogical to say that private buyers will be more farmer friendly than the MSP regime of the government,” said one Kuljit Singh.

Lakhbir Singh Nizampura, president, Vegetable Growers’ Organisation, said, “The private players in the local vegetable market, at present, are small fish as their capacity and power to exploit farmers and consumers is limited. Apart from farmers, several retail sellers are earning their livelihood by selling vegetables.”