Stress on quality crops: Check menace of middlemen

  • 08/05/2008

  • Central Chronicle (Bhopal)

The farmers of the State are not availing full benefits of their hard work. There remains a big difference between the prices of foodgrains produced by them and the being sold in the markets. Middle men are enjoying the farmers' hard labour. According to a report, sharbati wheat was sold Rs 2200-2500 a quintal in Ratlam but did the farmers reap the profits of this sale. It is also a matter of consideration that if quality crops are produced then the farmers would benefit. Earlier, sharbati wheat was produced in the Bhopal division and adjoining places. But, this production has declined over the years. The government should encourage cultivation of crops which are good in quality. Initiative should be taken to provide seeds and other facilities to the farmers for producing sharbati wheat. If it is not available then any other popular brand should be developed. It is noticeable that some of the adjoining areas of Balaghat, Seoni, Jabalpur and Hoshangabad produce good crop of paddy. Basmati rice which is popular in the entire world, is also produced in this area but all the farmers are not able to cultivate Basmati rice. Non-availability of seed is the main reason for this. Income in agriculture sector can be increased with the production of good kind of sharbati wheat and Basmati rice. There are ample possibilities in the state about these two crops. Only there is need to encourage the farmers in this direction. Production of quality crops is necessary to increase agriculture growth rate in the state. The farmers should be provided better quality seeds, fertilizers and water like basic facilities to make the farmers financially sound. After all agriculture is backbone of our country.