Farmers in Karnataka's Kolar district aren't happy with financial aid package for Totapuri mangoes announced by Central government. After June 22 protest,where thousands demanded better prices,State government pushed for Market Intervention Price (MIP) to help local growers.
Thursday,Union Minister for Consumer Affairs,Food and Public Distribution,Prahlad Joshi,unveiled a package setting MIP at ₹750 per quintal for up to 1.30 lakh tonnes of Totapuri mangoes. But farmers say it's not enough. Selling price will be set by a committee led by Karnataka's Principal Secretary of Agriculture Horticulture Cooperation .
New scheme caps max differential payment between MIP and selling price at 25% of MIP . Means ₹4,375 per tonne,or ₹4.37 per kilogram for mangoes. Farmers upset,claiming this doesn't cover cultivation costs. Neelataru Chinappa Reddy,president of Kolar District Mango Growers’ Welfare Association,slammed government's help as inadequate,stating, “The State and Centre have served water instead of serving food to a hungry farmer.”
Reddy urged governments to rethink MIP,stressing they asked for ₹10 per kilogram specifically for Totapuri. Even ₹8 per kilogram would've been better,amounting to ₹8,000 per tonne. Last year,government paid ₹4.20 per kilogram,only up 17 paise this year.
Karnataka government,considering farmers' losses this season,recommended cultivation cost of ₹17.50 per kilogram for Totapuri mangoes. Proposal sent to Union government to ease local growers' financial burden. Meanwhile,Union government issued guidelines for MIP,active for one month during marketing season .
Farmers wanting Price Deficiency Payment scheme must sell through designated Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets. Karnataka government also needs to publish list of authorized traders in Totapuri mango trade under MIP. Compensation for price losses will be directly transferred to farmers' accounts.
As situation develops,farmers plan to submit another memorandum to State government and Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited,seeking better outcome…
