Farmers’ tur protest to continue

Mumbai: Farmers are continuing to protest the centre’s decision to import 15 lakh tonne of tur (pigeon pea) from Mozambique. Their leaders have pointed out that due to a glut, the NAFED stopped procuring tur from farmers on May 15, leaving them holding 60 per cent of the produce. NAFED is the main agency that procures tur from farmers.

According to NAFED data, 3.24 lakh tonne tur has been procured from farmers in the state till May 15. Nearly 2.57 lakh farmers have sold their tur to NAFED, which amounts to `1,770 crore. This means only 32.9 per cent of tur has been procured in the state.

The state has seen good tur production for the past two years. Tur production is expected to touch 9.83 lakh tonne this year. Despite the bumper crop of tur in states like Maharashtra, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government has taken the decision to import 15 lakh tonne of tur this year.

Farmer leader Raghunathdada Patil questioned, “Why is the government importing tur? Does the imported tur taste sweeter than the Indian one? The government should give the same money to farmers and procure tur from the villages. Who is more important; Indian farmers or Mozambique’s traders?”

Agricultural expert Sunil Tambe said, “It is bizarre that we are importing tur from outside when our farmers have had such huge production. The government should procure this tur, at the rate of 50 per cent more than the minimum support price.”

Sadabhau Khot, minister of state for marketing department said, “We will procure all the tur of farmers in the state who have registered with us.”