Soyabean is likely to be a deciding factor in sealing the electoral fortunes of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in at least half a dozen districts of the State.
Farmers are complaining that they faced a huge loss in production due to the excess rainfall during the monsoon and that the Government did not give them any compensation despite repeated representations to the Chief Minister.
Though they are largely happy with Chouhan for improving the power situation and increasing the Minimum Support Price of wheat, the recent “tragedy” at the soybean fields has made them angry.
“I sowed soyabean on 75 per cent area of my seven-acre field, but more than half of it got destroyed due to the rains. I got a very poor price as the quality of the remaining beans was not excellent,” said Sham Lal, a farmer from Napla Khedi. Dinesh Chandra and his brothers, who had come from Khategaon to Astha Mandi to sell soyabean, said: “There is huge risk in soyabean cultivation. The quality of beans affects price.”
The brothers sowed soyabean on 80 acres, but they lost about 60 per cent of it. Roop Singh from Gud Bela has 20 acres with soyabean crop.
“I have a kisan card and crop insurance. But the authorities said there is no word from Bhopal on compensation,” he said.
Traders
Traders too agree that farmers deserve a better deal. “Farmers have lost hundreds of crores (by cultivating) soyabean. The Government could have helped them,” said Sukumal Sethi, a former president of the Indore Anaj Tilhan Vyapari Sangh.
“Last year, the Indore market bought an average 15,000 quintals of soyabean a day during the harvest season. This year, it has reduced to 7,000 quintals a day,” he said.
Pawan from Berasiya village also shared Sethi’s concern.
“Last year, I got between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,000 for a quintal of soyabean. This year, it was between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,800,” he said.
The industry also agrees that the Government should consider compensating farmers. Rajesh Agarwal, the spokesperson for the Soyabean Processors Association of India, said: “In districts around Bhopal and in Hoshangabad area, the loss could be more than 50 per cent. In other areas it could be less than 20 per cent. It is basically productivity loss. The Government has been quite farmer-friendly. The MSP was Rs 2,500 and farmers get about Rs 3,500 to Rs 4000 in the open market,” he said.
Shivkumar Sharma, leader of the Sansthapak Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party, said the Government was cheating people.
“They lost half their crop and the Government did not do anything,” he said. .