Many mango farmers are moving away from the Nunna mango market, which has transformed into a hub of unfair practices.
Key factors like demand and supply do not seem to have any impact on the price of the fruit.
A good number of mango farmers have stopped sending their produce to the market where prices are reportedly fixed through ‘secret handshakes’ by traders.
The traders, who rule the roost, charge extra commission and demand compensation for ‘projected’ losses incurred while transporting the fruit to metros and upcountry markets.
Farmers are forced to cough up over 10 per cent of commission, against the officially allowed 4 per cent. Besides, 100 kg of the fruit is set aside for every metric tonne of the produce towards “sootu” (compensation for fruit-damage while being transported).
“This works out to a little over 20 per cent,” says C.T. Srinivasa Rao, a mango farmer. Farmers have been trying in vain to put an end to this practice.
Bigger farmers are not affected as they make direct deals with sellers who go to their gardens to collect the produce. But small and medium farmers have no option, but to bring their fruit to the Nunna market.
Minister for Major Irrigation Devineni Umamaheswara Rao supports the cause of those crusading against unfair practices at the mango market for long.
On Monday, he visited the market and supervised a ‘mock’ open auction. A tonne of mango that was going for Rs. 12,000 sold for Rs. 24,000 in this auction. The traders were understandably not happy but they played along with the Minister.
In an attempt to resolve the problem permanently, the Minister asked officials of the departments concerned — Agriculture, Horticulture, Marketing and Police — to sit with the farmers and traders and bring them to a consensus over the practices and methods that are in use.
“Traders are sure to put on a show of strength and reject all attempts of interference in their business. Unless the government completely eliminates the middlemen and help the farmers to secure a remunerative price, there will be no improvement in the situation,” said farmers who are not very optimistic.