Orange trees in Nagpur, Maharashtra, are in full bloom and the process of harvesting has commenced in several places. Growers are not happy as the agitations against the farm ordinances has created uncertainty in the market, leading to dropping prices.
Amol Totey, Executive President of the Orange Growers Association of India, told BusinessLine that this year has seen a bumper crop with almost 150,000 hectares under cultivation in the Vidarbha region. The prices are a matter of worry as before the farmers’ agitation they were ₹30-40 per kg and now they have dropped to ₹20-25 per kg at the farm gate.
Traders from places as diverse as Siliguri in West Bengal and Kerala are a bit hesitant to order truckloads of oranges. Due to job losses and the economic slowdown, traders are also not sure if people will consume a lot of the fruit.
[ ₹100=€1.20 ]
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
