‘Farmers must unite against middlemen’

Mysuru:

Farmers

should unite and raise their voice against

middlemen

who buy agriculture produce at low price and sell them at a higher price in the market, said progressive farmer Ksheerasagar.

He was addressing a gathering at an interaction programme organized by Nisarga and Karnataka Farmers’ Market at the Institute of Engineers Hall here on Sunday.

Ksheersagar, who was speaking on ‘Relation between farmer and consumer, and challenges’, said brokers divide the crop in to different grades based on quality and assign a different price, but they sell all the purchased produce at a higher price in the market. This is cheating.

“Farmers’ income is decreasing every day. They should be allowed to fix price for a few crops which can make them financially stable,” he said.

“We need to establish an organic production centre for every eight to ten villages, which should be owned by farmers, thus avoiding the middlemen and helping farmers to lead a better life,” he added.

Eregowda, a resident of Madarahalli, who is into organic farming from the past ten years, says Mysuru leads in organic farming when compared to other districts. The demand for organic crop and

millets

has increased, he added.

He said organic farming needs more manpower which makes it difficult for farmers to find daily wage workers.

Dinesh, founder of Earth 360 Eco Ventures, said farmers need to unite and organize to attract consumers to organic farm products. More research is needed on improving organic farming and its practices. There is also need to organize more awareness programmes to spread the benefits of millets and organic food, he said.

Former Speaker Krishna inaugurated the programme. Social thinker P Mallesh was present.