Indore: The farmers in Indore on Wednesday staged a massive protest on the low prices of garlic in the region, demanded immediate ban on the import of garlic from China, and claimed Chinese garlic was undermining local markets.
The protesting farmers claimed that the import of Chinese has made an impact on locally produced garlic in the region.
The protesting farmers said traders have filled the local markets with Chinese garlic. A large quantity of garlic has arrived in the agricultural produce markets and wholesale retail vegetable markets.
“If the issue was not addressed early, the substandard chinese garlic in the market will not only affect the agricultural production but will also lead to the loss of business class peoples associated with its trade.”
In view of the farmers’ demands the Congress party has extended its support to the farmers protesting at Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Fal And Sabzi Mandi and other vegetable markets in the state’s financial city of Indore.
Addressing people the Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari hit out at the BJP government alleging that the local garlic farmers are suffering due to Chinese imports in several ways.
He alleged BJP for making fake promises before elections. Before the election, the BJP promised to boycott Chinese products in the country, but once in power they forgot it.
Patwari appealed to the chief minister to pay attention towards the farmers’ demands, adding congress will fight for the rights of farmers continuously.
Pertinent to mention, Madhya Pradesh is the leading producer of garlic where around 2,000 metric tons of garlic is annually produced.