Vegetable growers not even able to recover their costs

Jalandhar: Even as the Punjab government had ensured that vegetable markets started working within a couple of days of national lockdown and official machinery facilitated their working, yet the wholesale prices are so low that farmers are not even able to recover their expenses. At the same time, the retail prices range between three and six times more than what farmers are being able to fetch.

“Three days back we sold capsicum at Rs 3 per kg and could not even recover its plucking cost, which is around Rs 7 per kg,” said Jarnail Singh Garhdiwala, leader of Kandhi Kisaan Sangharash Committee. He sells his produce in vegetable market of Hariana in district Hoshiarpur. The retail price of capsicum has not gone below Rs 20 in all these days.

“We could sell gourd for Rs 4 per kg and tomato at Rs 4-5 per kg, while in retail these are being sold at Rs 15 to 20 per kg. Farmers are not able to sell most of the produce above Rs 5 per kg,” he said.

Near Sultanpur Lodhi, Gazipur village resident Daljeet Singh ploughed his crop of capsicum on Monday as he could not have recovered the costs on of plucking, packing and transporting. “I had capsicum on two acres. I would transport a small cargo vehicle to Jalandhar market and my expenses on its plucking, packing and transportation would total over Rs 3,500 for around 1,400 kilograms, but I would get just Rs 2,800 to 3,000 in the market. Finally I decided to plough it. I had spent around Rs 1.5 lakh on so far,” he said. “Three more growers have also ploughed their produce,” he said.

Phagwara-based farmer Avtar Singh, who has been focussing on diversification, shared similar experience. “Capsicum was never sold at single digit prices in the wholesale market. This time its price is at rock bottom,” he said. “Pumpkin was sold at Rs 1 per kg and gourd at Rs 2-3 per kg,” he said.

“The government must evolve a system, including tech-based solutions, to ensure that farmers are not doomed. How can idea of diversification be promoted if those who try face such a situation at the hands of traders in the vegetable markets. We are facing huge losses but consumers are still not getting these cheap. Middlemen walk away with profits,” said Garhdiwala and Avtar.