Farmers protest against import of garlic from China
Highlights
Garlic purchase stopped in protest against farmers, garlic purchase was not done in Shajapur market, demand for ban on import of Chinese garlic
Shajapur. Due to the protest by the farmers’ organization in the Krishi Upaj Mandi, the traders did not buy garlic on Tuesday. The farmers’ displeasure was also seen during this time and they did not reach the market with garlic produce. However, onion and other produce were auctioned.
In fact, the central government is importing garlic from China to stop the rising prices of garlic, which the farmers’ organizations are opposing. Due to this, the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh had decided not to sell the produce by calling for a market shutdown on September 10.
Effect of shutdown in Shajapur Mandi
Its effect was partially seen in Shajapur Mandi, while Shujalpur Mandi remained completely closed. The entire Krishi Upaj Mandi will remain closed on Tuesday. There was confusion among the farmers regarding this as well. Farmers arrived with onions and other produce and auction also took place. Farmers are protesting against Chinese garlic and are demanding the government not to buy it.
Assistant Inspector of Shajapur Krishi Upaj Mandi, Kishan Singh Parmar said that the farmers had decided to keep the garlic market closed for a day. No farmer brought garlic to Shajapur. Due to the closure, traders also did not buy.
Ban on import of Chinese garlic
Import of Chinese garlic in India has been banned for many years, but traders and farmers are angry due to the sale of Chinese garlic. There is a fear that garlic is likely to be smuggled from China in containers and the government should investigate this matter and stop the import.
Questions have also been raised as to who brought the Chinese garlic and why did the authorities allow it. There are rumours of Chinese garlic being caught in the warehouse. Traders suspect that several tonnes of garlic have been dumped in India from other countries via China, ignoring India’s ban.
The current price is 25 to 30 thousand per quintal
Farmers demand that there should be a complete ban on the import of garlic from any other country. Farmers said that if the import of garlic from China and other countries is not banned immediately, farmers will have to face huge losses. If farmers suffer financial losses, the government will have to bear the brunt of it.
Currently, due to the demand of garlic, the price is increasing. The price has reached 25 to 30 thousand rupees per quintal. Please clarify what is the government’s policy on garlic. Farmers Radheshyam Gurjar, Sundarlal Verma said that the government is not doing justice to the farmers and it is wrong to import garlic from other countries.
Demand throughout the year, storage problem
There is a demand for garlic throughout the year, but it takes seven to eight months for it to arrive in the market. Currently, the demand is there, the demand is more than the supply. Apart from this, it is needed every month.
Farmers say that garlic has a special feature that it is a spice but is like a vegetable, it cannot be stored. It gets spoiled in a few days. It can be stocked only when water is absorbed from garlic by dehydration. This time the production has decreased.
Due to the farmers’ union’s protest, garlic was not purchased, but traders purchased other crops, including onions.
– Shiv Prasad Rajput, Mandi Secretary Shajapur