Aurangabad, Dec 13:
Over 98 per cent of the millets, maize and tur coming in the Agricultural Produce Market Committee are of low quality and damp. As a result, these crops are getting lower than the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers are demanding that the government repeal the FAQ condition and buy all grains and pulses. Due to heavy rains, prices of food grains and pulses have gone down, the sources said.
Moisture up to 30 per cent
The market committee received 200 quintals of tur daily. The central government has announced an MSP of Rs 6,000 per kg. But in reality, the price ranged from Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,061 per quintal. The tur fetching more price than the MSP was minimal. The rest of the tur fetches less than the MSP of Rs 100 to Rs 500 as they contained 15 per cent to 30 per cent moisture. Some of the tur has more green seeds.
Rs 800 less for maize
The central government has declared MSP of Rs 1,850 per quintal for maize. However, in reality, farmers are getting prices between Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,300. Maize was also found to be more than 14 per cent moist and spotted. Traders dry the corn in the sun and then sell it to companies.
Black millet arrives more
Currently, millet (bajra) is being sold in the APMC market with a MSP of Rs 2,150 per quintal. But the actual price is Rs 1,150 to Rs 1,600 per kg. Due to heavy rains this year, the bajra turned black. Hybrid bajra is being sold at Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,300 and shalu bajra at Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,600 as it is up to 20 per cent moist. This year, the APMC had small quantity of green millet arriving from Marathwada.
Farmers have to pay charges
Farmers have to pay Rs 1-50 per kg and Rs 2-50 per kg labour charges after selling grains and pulses. The buyer has to pay a market fee of Rs 1 per cent, a supervision fee of Rs 5 and a levy of 30 per cent on haulage and labour. In the past, market fees had to be paid to farmers.
The buyer decides the price
In the market committee, farmers bring grains and pulses in front of the wholesaler shop. The sale begins in front of the employees of the market committee. The higher the bid, the better the goods quality. It is up to the farmer to decide whether to sell the goods or not. The amount is paid to the farmers within three days. The market committee currently has a daily turnover of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 15 lakh.
The difference between MSP and actual price should be subsidized.
The government has started purchase centers for farmers to get MSP. It costs billions of rupees every year. If there is any difference with the MSP and the price at APMC, the government should provide the subsidy of the amount directly to the farmers account. This will curb corruption and will not harm the farmers said Kanhaiyalal Jaiswal, wholesaler APMC.