BKU rebuffs Jai Ram Thakur Minister for misleading apple growers
The verbal duel continue between Bharat Kisan Union Leaders Rakesh Taiket and Modi Government in the centre over alleged patternage to Market forces and big corporate by allowing their entry in the agriculture hardly come to ends as a BKU leader rebuffed Horticulture Minister Mr Mahender Singh Thakur for misleading the apple growers.
The statement is trending in the social media quoting Mr Mahender Singh Thakur that apple growers should not pack apple in the corrugated boxes.
The agitated farmers and its leaders who are blaming Modi and Jai Ram Govt for standing with market forces again expressed their anger in the social media on Wednesday.
BKU state leader Mr Ander Singh Nauti said in a video message that Senior most ministers have passed an expert comment to apple growers advising them to come out in the open along apple crates and trays without enough packaging to get fair price.
He rebuffed the horticulture Minister for misleading the farmers. He said that the minister seemed to be nowhere during the crisis in the apple industry now trying to rub the wounds of affected farmers by making them foolish advice to show his presence for the name sake.
BKU leader blamed minister’s for playing biggest role in the department to sorrundeers a 1245 Cr world bank National Horticulture mission project for his whim and fancy and indulging in the backdoor and unproductive recruitment of clerical and subordinate staff from people belonging to his assembly segment (Dharmpur) and Seeraj(CM).
” Minister advise to apple growers came out with to carry their produce in crates on the road side to have good prices ” Mr Nauti said appears to be that he is trying trivialising matter for the namesake being a minister or may be ignorant about the handling of apple crops asking farmers to carry it without proper packaging. He should know that it would further ruin farmers as crop could damage during the trasnport.
”No farmers could afford to carry even C-grade or bruised apple in the trays or crates as it gets damage during the transport and carrying.” BKU leader said.
Mr Nauti demanded resignation of the minister said that if he could not render his
duty or not interested in his berith as minister of horticulture should do away with it soon
for the interest of apple industry.
Such an inexperienced minister who seemed to be tired of public life should tender resignation if he could not help the distressed apple growers , BKU observed .
” The BJP Govts seemed to be perturbed over the solidarity extended by the national farmer leader Rakesh Taiket to affected apple growers on the behest of market forces and big corporates on Aug 28 during now trying to control the damage ” he alleged.
It is worthwhile to mention that apple growers are forced to sell their crops in the other market outside state as they are not getting good price of their fruit in the state market yards owing to nexus of corporate and market forces , Mr Nauti alleged.
On last Saturday Mr Rakesh Taiket have also visited this capital town show his solidarity with the affected apple growers and farmers in the state with crashing of Apple and Tomato market in the state.
There are report that B and C small and less colour apple are being sold at prices of Rs 12 per kg in the state market however the retailers are earning Rs 100 to Rs 120 out of it.
The A- and B good colour and size apple are being sold from Rs 72 to Rs 64 kg however it is being sold in the retail markets at the prices of Rs 200 to Rs 250 by the food chain and corporate houses. Mr Nauti said that neither consumer nor the farmers are getting any relief from the current market situations however it is win win situation for corporates and middlemen who were also
supported by the Governments.
The unroasted maize purchased from the farmers at the rate of Rs five to six per piece or corn is being sold at the rate of Rs 20 to 25 by the street vendors and Rs 40 to 45 in the shopping retail malls by the corporate houses .
Similarly a Tomato trays weighing about RS 25 kg is being sold at the rate of Rs 200 to Rs 250 in the whole sale market however the consumers are getting it at the rate of Rs 30 to 35 kg, a local farmer told this correondondent.
State economy have contribution of 16 per cent to GDP as Agriculture contributes around Rs 8000 to 9000 Core and Apple Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 Crore, Animal husbandry Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 Cr per annum including other allied sectors former economic advisory in the Jai Ram Government Mr Pardeep Chauhan said .
