Middlemen fleece tribal farmers

Visakhapatnam: The tribal farmers in the district are losing good amount of revenue due to lack of proper administrative mechanism to promote and create marketing facilities for organic vegetables.

As there is no exclusive Rythu Bazaars for organic vegetables and other forest produce including tamarind and other products, the middlemen procuring them at cheap price and selling the same in open market at higher prices.

There are 11 mandals in agency where tribal farmers are cultivating various vegetables and collecting various forest produces. There is a big demand for organic vegetables, agency tamarind and several fruits like mango and jackfruits.

The tribals, who are not aware about demand in the open market about their vegetables and other forest produce, selling the commodities to middlemen at a cheaper cost. Without quantifying the commodities, the middlemen are purchasing them by paying money on wholesale.

There is a huge demand for organic vegetables including tamato, brinjal, cabbage and other vegetables. As there is no official mechanism and marketing facilities to sell their organic vegetables and other forest produces, the tribals are selling the commodities to middlemen.

"The government should set up tribal bazaars at more available places in cities and should also arrange vehicles to bring the agency branded products and other organic vegetables. But there are no such practices and tribals are still depending on middlemen. The tribals, after taking several pains, are bringing the material to nearest junctions by walk.

Though they are not satisfied with offer of middlemen, unable to face troubles to back with the commodities, they are selling the same whatever the price the middlemen offers," said Pandi Lakshmanudu, a tribal farmer of Paderu. The AP Girijan Sangham for the past several years is asking the government to set up marketing facilities to the forest produces and organic vegetables but in vain.