This improved prices offered to farmers for their fruits
Workers load mangoes into a truck at the mango market near Nunna in Vijayawada on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)
VIJAYAWADA: A syndicate of traders in the Nunna mango market is exploiting farmers from Krishna and other districts who come here to sell their produce, by fixing unreasonable prices. The traders also charge extra commission.
Efforts by the government to curb such unfair practices at the beginning of this season didn’t amount to much. Over the time, this market has become rather unpopular due to the exploitation of farmers by traders from Northern India. The intervention of irrigation minister Devineni Uma Maheshwara Rao helped change the trend in this market at the beginning of this year.
The marketing department intervened to put an end to the “musugu” system of finalising the mango prices, wherein prices are fixed by the commission agents and traders without the farmers’ role at any stage. This results in the latter getting paid very low amounts for their mango produce. The minister and the marketing department helped fix prices in the presence of farmers and the officials without the commission agents.
This improved prices offered to farmers for their fruits. Prices of Banginapalli, Totapuri (Collector) and Cherukurasam varieties of mangoes went up to Rs 50,000 per tonne.
But the joy of farmers was shortlived as the syndicate succeeded in bringing down the prices in two to three days. Prices tanked further again this Monday, leading to resentment among the farmers.
At present Banginapalli, Totapuri and Cherukurasam are priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 125,000 per tonne. “These prices are not at all encouraging. Hence, we stopped bringing our mangoes here,” said Madala Bhaskara Rao of Eedula-gudem in Agiripalli mandal.
“The state government should not remain a mute spectator to this exploitation and must continue its monitoring of prices,” demanded farmer Kilaru Srinivas of Eedara village in Krishna district.
( Source : dc )
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