Farm distress: Groundnut growers hit hard as prices plunge

Kalyandurg(Anantapur): Groundnut farmers in the district are on agitation path for not getting remunerative price for their produce. The price of crop which was Rs5,000 per quintal three weeks ago has nose-dived to Rs2,000 to Rs 2,500. On average, a farmer having a land holding of 5 acres, had spent about Rs50,000 but at the end of the day, the farmer is unable to realise even his investment on his crop.

Some farmers are embarking on distress sale while others are waiting for government to respond on the issue. Obuleshu, a farmer in Andepalle village had cultivated groundnut in 10 acres of land. The crop yield was good but due to crash of purchase price, he could not realise his expenditure of Rs1.10 lakh on 10 acres. Unless the government intervenes and ensure the remunerative price, the economy of farmers would crash like a landslide, he avers.

The normal acreage of groundnut in the district is nearly 6 lakh hectares. Initially the rains played truant with farmers during sowing of crop but subsequently sowing was carried out in 13 lakh hectares with heavy rains lashing the district. The crop yield was anywhere between 8-10 bags per acre. Each bag is 100 kilos.

Agriculture experts, officials and farmers are expecting a bumper crop. Joy eludes farmers due tocrash in purchase price which is not remunerative. The farmers in the district expected to earn Rs2,000 plus crores on their crop are now disillusioned with the crash in their income to a mere Rs1,000 odd crores which is a 50 percent downward side.

Agriculture joint director Sriramamurthy told The Hans India there is no cause for alarm although SOS from farmers are pouring in. “The overall picture is not bleak. In any case a proposal is sent to the government recommending for purchase of groundnut crop by Oil Federation companies. As of now there is no need for setting up purchase centres by government,” he added.

By Ravi P Benjamin