Farmers of Kumarghat sub-division are in dire situation due to abruptly falling prices of vegetables. The situation is such that cauliflowers of weight 1.5-2 kg are being sold at below Rs 10 while prices of cabbages weighting 2-2.5kg stand at Rs 5-7 only.
“The prices of vegetables are so low that we are unable even to cover the transport costs”, said farmers of Sonaimuri area under Kumarghat sub-division.
Local sources said, Wednesday was the weekly Haat baar at Pabiachhara where dire condition of famers was highlighted as most of the farmers had to sell their vegetables at a nominal price.
“Falling prices have been triggered due to excess supply of vegetables. Scattered rains hit the sub-division few days ago. Rains forced the farmers to harvest the vegetables in a hurry”, one of the farmers Rocky Das said and added, rains at this time would damage the crops, so we had no option but to harvest all the crops across the sub-division leading to excess supply in the markets and pulling the prices drastically down.
Local sources said, sudden spell of rains has ruined the farmers of the sub-division. With no storage facilities, farmers have harvested the crops and started selling in the markets.
“Warehouse for vegetables would save the day for farmers. As vegetables are highly perishable items we cannot store it at our places and keeping the crops in fields is also not a viable option in view of the rains”, opined Rocky Das and added, farmers are unable to cover the transportation cost of the vegetables.
Informed sources said, farmers of Jagannathpur, Telia, Sonaimuri, Palbazar, Tarani Nagar, Krishna nagar and Mach mara area are the worst sufferers. Quoting farmers, local sources said, farmers in those areas would incur a loss of Rs 15-20 thousand per Kani.