Uttarakhand farmers destroy 4.25-acre banana plantation after failing to get proper rates

Three
farmers from Sitaranj area in Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand, destroyed
their 4.25 acre land and the banana crops growing in it by chopping the trees
after failing to make sales for the right price, Hindustan Times reported. The horticulture
officials advised the farmers to plant the crop, however, they failed to find
buyers when the crop was ready for harvest. 

 The farmers travelled to Pilibhit and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh looking for buyers, but all in vain. They said destroying the crop was the last
resort.

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A
similar case emerged in December where hundreds of farmers in Andhra Pradesh
had to sell tomatoes at 10 paise per kg. The price was so meagre that making
profit was out of the question. They couldn’t even compensate for the
investment they made for growing the crops. Farmers had spent Rs 8,400 crore
per acre every session, including labour cost and transportation.

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Farmers
who grow fruits and vegetables not covered under minimum support price (MSP)
and with a low shelf life bear the brunt of this situation. When the produce
reaches the markets for sale, their prices plummet suddenly. Since the farmers
cannot hold the harvested crop for long, they have no choice but to sell it at
lower price.

Sometimes,
the fruits and vegetables end up feeding the cattle.