Common Men struggle as prices of vegetables and grains skyrocket in Mandis

• Image Credit: The Economic Times

• Oct 9, 2022 | Kabir Chakraborty

Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are paid 2.5% for their goods in mandi committees, and arhtiya also charges 2.5% in fee. The price of the veggie goes up by 5% right here.

Digital Desk: color:#333333;background:#F8F9FA">The public is already struggling to recover
from the ramifications of the Covid-induced lockdowns implemented in stages
since early 2020, thus the skyrocketing prices of necessities have inflicted a
severe blow. 

color:#333333;background:#F8F9FA">Whether it be veggies or grains, the cost of everything has
increased, from the time it leaves the farm to the time it reaches the average
person's kitchen. By the time an item leaves the farm and travels through
markets, wholesalers, and vendors to the customer, prices have risen
significantly.

#F8F9FA">The farmer raises vegetables in the field and sells them at the
government-mandated markets (mandis), but delivering them to the mandi comes
with a number of costs, such as transportation costs to carry them to the
arhtiya or commission agent. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are paid 2.5% for their
goods in mandi committees, and arhtiya also charges 2.5% in fee. The price of
the veggie goes up by 5% right here.

#F8F9FA">The Uttar Pradesh government has lowered the mandi committee tariffs
from 2.5 to 1.5 percent in order to help the farmers. That example, instead of
the previous 5%, farmers now just have to pay 4% of the entire price.

#F8F9FA">Despite this, the price of the farm's produce skyrockets by the time
it gets to the kitchen of the average person. The foodgrains are sold in the market
committees to large and wholesale traders in addition to the retailers who
recoup the cost of shipping, packaging, and the overall cost of the foodgrains.

#F8F9FA">Right from the farm to reaching the kitchen of the common man, the
price of a product costing Rs 10 goes up to Rs 25 to 30. Bad weather,
transporters' stir, hiked petrol and diesel prices lead to increased prices of
goods. The journey from the farm to the kitchen is costing more by the day and
the budget of the common man is continuously shrinking.

S.P. Yadav, an arhtiya
in Ghaziabad mandi, informed that when the farmer reaches the mandi with his
goods, he brings it here by adding the price of the farm, money spent by labour
and the money spent by bringing it to the market. The commission agent takes
2.5 per cent commission from the farmers and the market committee takes 1.5 per
cent after which the price of the goods starts increasing. color:#333333">