Cold storage units give potato farmers a week’s ultimatum to take away produce

  • | Monday | 7th January, 2019

Agra: Stopping the operation of preservation units, cold storage centre owners have issued ultimatum to farmers to take away their stored potatoes within a week, failing which the centres would sell or otherwise dispose of the stored produce. However, most of the 270 centres in Agra still have stock of potatoes stored in them.Mohammad Aamir, general secretary of Potato Producers’ Association said, “Cold storage centres have stopped preservation. The government has failed to take cognizance of the matter.”Sudarshan Agarwal, president of the Cold Storage Association of Agra said, “Machines at the cold storages have been stopped. Around 5 lakh packets of potato, with each packet weighing 50kg, are stored in cold storage centres of Agra district.The last date determined by the district administration for withdrawal of potatoes stored at the cold centres was December 31. Farmers are not interested in taking away their produce due to prevailing low market rates.

Agra: Stopping the operation of preservation units, cold storage centre owners have issued ultimatum to farmers to take away their stored potatoes within a week, failing which the centres would sell or otherwise dispose of the stored produce. Around 5 lakh packets of potato, with each packet weighing 50kg, are stored in cold storage centres of Agra district.The last date determined by the district administration for withdrawal of potatoes stored at the cold centres was December 31. However, most of the 270 centres in Agra still have stock of potatoes stored in them.Mohammad Aamir, general secretary of Potato Producers’ Association said, “Cold storage centres have stopped preservation. Farmers have been asked to take away their produce within the next week. Farmers are not interested in taking away their produce due to prevailing low market rates. They are not even able to retain their investments. The government has failed to take cognizance of the matter.”Sudarshan Agarwal, president of the Cold Storage Association of Agra said, “Machines at the cold storages have been stopped. The entire facility needs proper cleaning and maintenance for the next crop. Around 5 lakh packets of potato are still stored in the centres. Farmers have been requested to take them away within a week.”Not able to get fair price, farmers have decided to distribute their produce free of cost as mark of protest.Rajveer Lawaniya, district president of Aloo Kisan Vikas Samitti said, “Farmers are not able to get even 50% of their investment, which is Rs 700-800 per quintal. We had demanded that the state government declare Rs 1,000 per quintal as minimum support price for potato, which was not done. Farmers will set up counters to distribute potatoes for free in different parts of the city.”Last week, TOI had reported about money order of Rs 490 sent to PM Narendra Modi by a potato farmer who saved the meager amount after selling 19,000 kg of produce.

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