Wheat Prices in Vidarbha Crash by Over Rs 1,000 Per Quintal, Farmers Point to West Asia Conflict
Farmers in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra are facing a severe crisis as wheat prices have plummeted by more than Rs 1,000 per quintal compared to last year. The current rates have dipped below the government-set Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,585 per quintal, with no active procurement at MSP levels reported. This sharp decline is being attributed by local growers to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which has severely hampered export channels, creating a glut in domestic markets.
Export Disruptions Lead to Domestic Glut
Messages circulating among agricultural communities suggest that wheat may not fetch more than a couple of thousand rupees per quintal this season. The war in West Asia has disrupted international trade routes, particularly affecting exports through critical channels like the Strait of Hormuz. This has led to an oversupply within India, depressing prices significantly. Last year, mill-quality wheat commanded prices between Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,000 per quintal, but current rates have crashed to around Rs 2,100 per quintal, with some areas reporting as low as Rs 1,800.
Farmers Struggle with Lack of Procurement and Low Profits
Despite wheat being cultivated on over 13 lakh hectares in Maharashtra during the rabi season, with harvests typically occurring in March, there is no systematic procurement mechanism under MSP for this crop in the state. While other food crops like soyabean and tur are procured through government intervention, wheat farmers feel neglected. Manish Jadhav, a farmer and activist from Yavatmal, highlighted this disparity, noting the substantial area under wheat cultivation without corresponding support.
Individual farmers are bearing the brunt of this price crash. Shaikh Zakir from Kali Daulat Khan village in Yavatmal cultivated wheat on two acres, yielding 23 quintals. This year, he expects a profit of only Rs 11,000, a sharp drop from last year's Rs 20,000. Similarly, Vikas Rathore from Katkheda village in the same district grew 50 quintals on five acres, with total expenses reaching Rs 90,000. Selling his wheat may fetch just over one lakh rupees, leaving him with minimal profit after accounting for seed costs of Rs 2,200 per bag.
Market Traders Confirm Price Slump
Atul Senad, a trader at the Kalamna Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard, confirmed that wheat prices are not exceeding Rs 2,200 per quintal. He cited multiple factors, including the West Asia conflict and potential overproduction this year. The wheat grown in Vidarbha is primarily purchased by millers for making refined flour, but with export routes blocked, domestic demand has not kept pace with supply.
This situation underscores broader challenges in Indian agriculture, where geopolitical tensions can directly impact local economies. Farmers in irrigated areas of Vidarbha, where wheat is a secondary but significant crop, are now calling for enhanced government intervention and better procurement systems to safeguard their livelihoods against such external shocks.
