Farmers dealing with hardship due to price decreases in soya beans, as asserted by farmer representatives at Indore's Lakshmibai Marketplace
In Indore, Madhya Pradesh, soybean prices have plummeted, causing distress among farmers. The farmers are reportedly forced to sell their crops at rock-bottom prices due to loan and instalment pressures.
According to farmer leaders in the region, the yields this season have been poor, averaging only 2-3 quintals per bigha. Despite this, the farmers are not receiving fair prices for their soybean produce. Good quality soybean is fetching between Rs 3,500 and Rs 3,800 per quintal, while inferior and moisture-laden produce is selling below Rs 3,000.
Kisan leader Bablu Jadhav has stated that traders in Indore have formed a cartel to keep soybean prices suppressed. He alleges that this situation worsens the crisis for farmers, who are already struggling with poor yields and low prices.
Farmer leaders under Samyukt Kisan Morcha, including Ramswaroop Mantri, Chandan Singh Badwaria, and Shailendra Patel, have strongly criticized the profiteering of traders and companies in Indore. They have demanded that the government immediately purchase soybeans at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to provide relief to the struggling farmers.
Interestingly, a "one-litre" pouch of soybean oil, which earlier contained nearly 900 grams, has been reduced to 850 grams without any public announcement from the companies. An 850-gram pouch of refined soybean oil is retailing at Rs 130 in Indore.
Unfortunately, the farmers' plight is not limited to soybean prices. In a separate incident, three children drowned in a rainwater-filled pit in the Indore district. The specific details or circumstances surrounding the drowning are not provided.
This news serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by farmers in Indore and the urgent need for fair prices and support from the government and businesses.
