Aurangabad, Jan 29:
Despite the government announcing a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,000 per quintal for tur dal, farmers are selling tur to traders in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) at far lower rates. The government has started online registration of farmers for purchase of tur. However, only 290 farmers from Gangapur and Khultabad registered online. No farmer from other tehsils has shown interest in registration.
The farmers sold 30,274 quintals of tur in December and January at APMC. In December 2019 and January 2020, 14319 quintals of tur was sold by farmers in the market committee. In this regard, farmer Ramrao Sontakke said that in the price of tur was between Rs 5,700 and Rs 5,800 per quintal on Friday. The money is deposited in the bank account the next day. Registration is still going on at the government purchase centres. But farmers don't know when the purchase will start. Hence there is no response to the registration at the government procurement centre this year, he said.
Tur is in high demand from Chennai
Due to abundant rainfall and favourable climate last season, the quality of tur dal in Marathwada is good. As a result, more than 100 trucks from the district were loaded and sent to Chennai. The government only buys fair average quality tur. But no matter how moist the tur is, the traders at APMC purchase it. This year, the tur were bought for between Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,151 said, Harish Pawar, trader, APMC.