In Jharkhand, India, high-tech greenhouse growers are facing an unprecedented challenge as vegetable prices have dramatically decreased across the state, resulting in severe financial distress. This price drop is particularly acute in Ranchi's city markets, where staples such as cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, and tomatoes are fetching as low as Rs 5-10 ($0.06-$0.13) per kg. The situation is even more dire in rural areas, with prices dropping lower, and middlemen declining to offer equitable rates. This scenario has led to drastic actions by the farmers, including the destruction of crops out of frustration.
Instances of farmers taking extreme measures to voice their discontent have been reported. Radheshyam Mahato, from Badkipona village, and another farmer from Gola block, have destroyed their cabbage and cauliflower crops, respectively, due to the inability to secure fair prices. In Ormanjhi, Ranchi district, similar actions of uprooting and discarding vegetable crops have been observed.
The financial viability of transporting the produce to the market has become a concern, as noted by Kameshwar Mahato from Ukrid village, who lamented the low return on cauliflower and cabbage, making even the transportation costs unsustainable. The sentiment is echoed by farmers from Jamhar village in Bokaro district, who, despite replanting their fields after unseasonal rains, are confronting plummeting market prices.
The issue spans major vegetable-growing regions in Jharkhand, including Ranchi, Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Koderma districts, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. Shibu Mahato from Hazaribagh district pointed out the dismal rates for radishes and cabbages, further complicating the feasibility of transporting crops to markets.
Local journalist Ramdev Kesari emphasized the seasonal nature of this price drop, occurring annually from February to April-May, and called for the establishment of vegetable processing units and mechanisms to ensure fair crop prices for farmers. Without such interventions, the agricultural sector in Jharkhand faces a grim outlook.
Source: Social News XYZ