Unsold and underpriced

All sections of farmers, be it paddy, chilli or vegetable growers, are forced to resort to distress sale owing to COVID-19-induced conditions, and subject themselves to exploitation of middlemen who deny them MSP

Bumper yields have failed to bring cheer to the farmers in the State as lack of marketing and transportation dashed their hopes of getting a good return on their investment. Restrictions in place on movement within and outside the State to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic have adversely impacted farmers, with vegetable growers taking a big hit. According to information, the minimum support price (MSP) or remunerative price has remained elusive for paddy, tomato, banana and other crops, with even recovery of investment remaining doubtful in some cases. Paddy is cultivated in 8.81 lakh hectares in the State during rabi with an estimated production of around 61.89 lakh metric tonnes (MT). The government has opened 1,441 paddy purchase centres across the State but the procurement remained at 32.10 lakh MT as on May 27.