Okra farmers in the Indian city of Surat, who sell their produce at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), have decided to put pressure on chief minister Vijay Rupani when he visits Surat city and Vyara on September 8, to ensure they get a good price for their crops. Nearly 210 metric tonnes of lady's fingers are grown on 3,000 hectares in Surat district, but the vegetable is being sold for Rs1 per kg there.
The production cost of lady's finger in Surat district comes to about Rs 3.5 per kg but it sells for Rs 3 per kg in wholesale market, says the horticulture department of the Gujarat government. However, the lady's fingers sell at Rs 40 per kg in the retail market, which benefits brokers more than the farmers.
Dinesh Padaliya, assistant director, horticulture department, said, "There is an abundance of lady's finger in the market and hence brokers rule the roost. They are setting the rate as per their wish because competition among farmers to sell the crop is high. Plantation of lady's finger in the district has gone up from 2,000 to 3,000 hectare in the past few years. There has been increase in production per hectare too."
Gujarat Khedut Samaj leaders alleged that some people in APMC were fleecing farmers. They alleged that these people have made it difficult for the farmers to get good prices for their produce, be it onion, potato, lady's finger, etc. These leaders want the state government to ensure farmers are not exploited.
