Grape Farmers in Nashik Seek Fair Compensation for Land Acquisition

Farmers protest grape crop valuation methods based on export and APMC rates, claiming they don't reflect the prices they earn selling directly to traders.

Grape farmers in Nashik district, Maharashtra, are seeking fair compensation for the grape crops they will be forfeiting due to the sale of their land for the proposed Surat-Chennai Expressway.

The farmers have raised this issue with the union minister of state for health and family welfare, Dr. Bharati Pawar, and the agriculture department has reached out to the director of the state horticulture department to address their concerns.

The farmers are concerned that the current methodology used for determining the crop's value is not fair, as it is based on regular export rates or APMC rates, which do not accurately reflect the prices that farmers receive when they sell their grapes directly to traders.

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The farmers are also concerned that the government deducts 30% of the value of the crop, citing it as a cultivator's risks and profits. They argue that when APMC rates are inaccurate, the Grape Growers' Association's recommendations should be considered for valuation.

The agriculture department has stated that it is seeking guidance from the horticulture department to finalize the valuation of the grape vines so that rates can be calculated and presented to the farmers by their demands.

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On a separate note, the Ministry of Agriculture has reported record-breaking production in both foodgrains and horticultural produce for the 2022-23 crop year. Foodgrain production has surged to an estimated 330 million tonnes, marking a substantial 4% increase from the preceding year.

Simultaneously, horticultural produce has reached a staggering 352 million tonnes, indicating a noteworthy 1% increase. Notably, crops like paddy and wheat have achieved record production levels, and there have been slight upticks in fruit and vegetable production.

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attributes these accomplishments to the collective efforts of farmers, scientists, and well-considered government policies.

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