Farmers in Indore Rally Against Inferior Garlic Imports from China
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Indore, Dec 18 (NationPress) Frustrated by the declining prices of garlic, farmers organized a significant protest in Indore on Wednesday. They are calling for an immediate ban on the import of garlic from China, which they assert is detrimental to local markets.
Garlic cultivators indicated that the influx of Chinese garlic has adversely affected its pricing, forcing them to sell their harvest at unreasonably low rates.
Protesting farmers reported that traders have flooded the mandis with Chinese garlic. "A vast quantity of garlic has entered the agricultural produce markets and wholesale vegetable markets here," said one of the protesting farmers.
Farmers alleged that substandard Chinese garlic is being prioritized by Mandi operators. They cautioned that if this issue remains unresolved, the presence of inferior Chinese garlic in the markets will not only harm agricultural output but also lead to financial losses for the business sector.
The Opposition Congress party expressed its solidarity with the farmers demonstrating at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Fal And Sabzi Mandi and various vegetable markets in Indore, the financial hub of the state.
During the gathering, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari criticized the BJP government, claiming that local garlic farmers are suffering in numerous ways due to Chinese imports.
"During election campaigns, BJP leaders vow to boycott Chinese products, yet once in power, they quietly import goods from China. This reflects the BJP's hypocrisy regarding Chinese products," Patwari stated.
He urged Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to listen to the farmers’ demands and assured that Congress will persist in advocating for farmers' rights.
Madhya Pradesh ranks as India’s top garlic producer, yielding over 2,000 metric tons of garlic annually. The state's diverse climate, ranging from semi-arid to sub-humid, along with moderate temperatures and evenly distributed rainfall, provides an ideal setting for garlic cultivation.
Numerous districts in the Malwa-Nimar regions, including Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ujjain, Devas, Shajapur, Ratlam, and others, are renowned for their high-quality garlic production in the state.
