Bumper crop fans price crash

NEW DELHI: The farmers’ protest in Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh (MP) signifies the flip side of a bumper crop.

But MP is not the only state battling falling prices of farm products.

Here is a low down in what is happening in different states.

WEST BENGAL: PADDY AND POTATO

The wholesale price of paddy and potato are badly affected.

While the government has announced the minimum price for the crops, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee blamed demonetisation, along with bumper potato production, for the price crash. Veteran peasant leader and CPI (M) politburo member, Hannan Mollah said the wholesale price of paddy is hovering between ₹1,100 and ₹1,300 per quintal as against the MSP of ₹1,610 per quintal.

KARNATAKA: TUR

In Karnataka, Tur dal is the worst hit. “Area under Tur cultivation has increased because farmers wanted to cash in on the rise in prices of pulses. This has led to a glut in the state,” said Prakash Kammaradi, chairman of the Karnataka Agricultural Prices Commission.

TELANGANA, ANDHRA PRADESH: RED CHILLI

Prices of red chilli have plunged across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Red chilli now sells at ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 per quintal, down from ₹12,000 a quintal.

UTTAR PRADESH: ARHAR DAL

The bumper Rabi crop in UP has led to fall in prices of commodities . “Arhar (yellow dal) that sold for ₹65 per kg is now ₹60 per kg.,” said Alok Bansal, a grain wholesaler.

HARYANA: SUNFLOWER

Prices of pulses and vegetables have crashed and are being sold at lower than the MSP.

“As against MSP of ₹3,950 per quintal, sunflower is being sold at about ₹2,800” said Rakesh Bains, BKU spokesperson.

PUNJAB: MOONG DAL

In Punjab, prices of arhar and moong dal have crashed to ₹2,500-₹3,000 a quintal, below the MSP of ₹4,650 and ₹4,925. “The trend is not good. If the prices continue to fall, farmers will suffer,” said, a dealer.