Bhopal: Cost of farm produce has been affected on the day 1 of the nationwide farmers stir on Friday. Bhopal Mandi wore deserted as the supply of vegetables was disrupted. Vendors already charge more than normal rates for farm produce in the weekly hatt but due to stir vegetables prices shot by two to three times and milk collection reduced by 30 per cent in Bhopal district.
COO Dugdha Sangh Abhishekh Singh said, “We have sufficient stock to supply milk in the district for six months. There is nothing for the public to panic over milk supply.” Sources closed to Milk Federation said that normally a collection of 4-5 lakh litre of milk is registered while the demand is for 3.5 lakh litres. So the remaining milk is converted to powder which is in stock with us.
Saeed Bhai, trader of Nav Bahar sabbji mandi, said, “ It was first day of strike, but vegetables shops and markets in the colonies remained opened. Vegetables are available but at a higher price.” “There was no any supply of vegetables in the mandis- it was off–day. We have sold the old stock as farm produice are perishable,” he added.
Suraj Kushwah, Shahpura, said, “We sell vegetable from our farm. We sold it at the usual prices. The sale was more than normal and we could not meet the demand. The first day of strike has little impact on the business.” The protests were called to mark the first anniversary of the Mandsaur demonstration in Madhya Pradesh, in which six farmers were killed in police firing.
They have started a 10-day nationwide strike demanding waiver of loans, right price for their crops and implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission. Vegetable prices soar, milk collection falls by 30%.
Concerned with the first day of Farmers’ agitation the government is focusing mainly on the maintainance of law and order. On CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Chouhan took feedback from his ministers and key BJP leaders on the issue. He reviewed the developments in the farmers’ agitation with Chief Secretary BP Singh and other officers at the state hanger on Friday.
The officials too had rounds of meetings and Police officers took regular feedback of the developments throughout the day. Chouhan directed police officials to ensure that law and order situation should not be disturbed anywhere across the state.
Box BJP organisation is observing the situation closely.BJP state president Rakesh Singh and organisational general secretary Suhas Bhagat stayed in Bhopal to keep abreast with the developments.The incident of firing in which six people were killed in Mandsaur last year, is still haunting the BJP organisation and the state government.
