Kolar: The tomato crop is once again facing the problem of price crash in its major cultivation belt of Kolar due to glut in arrivals. But the consumers too are not benefiting from the price crash situation as the retail price of tomato is still ruling high.
But a close look at the price crash shows that middlemen are taking advantage of the situation.
Farmers are getting only Rs 50 to Rs 100 for a 15kg box of the procedure against the level of Rs 300 a box about two days ago. But the consumers are still paying Rs 15 to Rs 20 a kg for this produce at retail shops.
A large quantum of arrivals from Andhra Pradesh to Kolar market is the reason for the glut situation. Because, of the total 2,000 quintal of tomato coming to the APMC yard, only 500 qunital is from local farmers and the remaining is from Andhra.
Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission (APC), a noteworthy initiative of the State government to protect farmers from market price fluctuation, has failed to solve the price issue.
Before the setting up of the APC, Minister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byre Gowda consistently maintained that the APC would have powers to fix minimum support price (MSP) for crops. However, after its constitution, it seems that the body has not been allowed to give priority to pricing.
The APC meeting in Bengaluru on Monday was a continuation of conflict between members and government representatives. Sources alleged that the Minister had expressed the government’s inability to procure crops at a scientific MSP. He asked them to concentrate not on pricing, but on other tasks such as analysing local, national and global markets, recommending the crops to be cultivated for the year, and suggesting innovative cultivation methods to achieve greater yield at a lower cost.
He also reportedly told the APC that the State suffered a loss of Rs. 450 crore last year as it procured maize at an MSP of Rs. 1,300 a quintal and later sold it at Rs. 800 a quintal.
The APC has, so far, submitted two reports to the government after it came into existence in July last year. Both the reports have predominantly focussed on non-pricing recommendations. While the first report recommended measures to strengthen and expand ragi and white jowar cultivation, the second one suggested steps to encourage the cultivation of 11 major crops that could make farmers economically stable.
