Farmers at Vattavada and Kanthalur have begun to get competitive price for their produce after Horticorp began procurement of vegetables from the two villages.
M.R. Harikrishnan, Horticorp official in charge of procurement of produce from these two villages which account for 40 per cent of the total vegetable production in the State, told The Hindu on Saturday that the agency had procured 35 tonnes of vegetables comprising mainly potato, carrot, cabbage and beans on Friday. Horticorp has 1,800 farmers at Vattavada and 1,400 farmers at Kanthallur forming a cluster of around 30 farmers each.
Two societies Two societies under Horticorp directly procure the vegetables. Mr. Harikrishanan said the farmers were paid a price above the market rate. “The price here is decided on the basis of prices in the Thiruvanathapuram, Changanassery, and Madurai markets,’’ he said.
The total procurement by Horticorp is expected to reach 50 tonnes with the opening of Onam markets on Sunday. In addition to Horticorp, the vegetables are sold through the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralam’s Swayasraya Karshaka Vipanis (SKVs) and direct procurement by businessmen.
However, this is a minor portion compared to the total quantity procured by Horticorp. “The prices are at a high and we cannot meet the demand from businessmen,” said a VFPCK official.
For Madurai Certain beans varieties such as butter beans have no demand in Kerala, but are much sought after in Tamil Nadu. They directly go to the Madurai market. The average price of butter beans is Rs.90 a kg.
Mr. Harikrishnan said the main problem faced by Horticorp was lack of storage facility and vegetables like potato were highly prone to decay.
VFPCK district manager Sajimon Joseph said earlier there was a tendency among businessmen to form a cartel and give advance money to the farmer to take the stock. Such tenancies do not prevail now as the VFPCK itself joins the auction, he said.
