Nizamabad: A steep fall in the prices of Amchur (dry mango) is adversely affecting the farmers in Telangana state. Citing the inferior quality of Amchur, traders are offering only Rs 8,000 per quintal.
Nizamabad agriculture market yard is the only market in the state for sale of Amchur in the state.
The farmers from undivided Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Medak, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar and Adilabad districts brought Amchur for sale in Nizamabad.
In view of the growing health problems due to use of tamarind in food items, people preferred to use Amchur (dry mango) powder.
Usually, people in southern states use tamarind in different dishes. In north India, Amchur is used instead. For the last four decades, Amchur has been transported to north Indian states from Nizamabad.
Removing the peel, the farmers cut the mango and dry it up. Either in dried cut pieces or as Amchur powder, this used in curries and other food items.
Dasari Narsimloo, a farmer from Laxmapur village in Medak district, said Amchur is no longer profitable for them. Due to unfavourable climatic conditions, the mango yield has decreased. The demand for Amchur also decreased, he said.
"We are unable to get back at least what we spend as transport charges to bring Amchur from faraway places to Nizamabad market," he said.
Another farmer, Syed Yusuf of Bhainsa in Nirmal district, said, “We will pay Rs 70 for removing the peel of 100 mangoes. However, citing online transactions and inferior quality, traders do not offer us a remunerative price.”
The state government should purchase Amchur though government agencies to ensure supportive prices, he opined.
Lingam, chamnapur village in Medak district, said he brought Mallika fine variety Amchur for sale and got Rs 33,200 per quintal.
Ankith Gupta, a trader, said that untimely rain damaged Amchur while processing it in villages. ‘Amchur should be maintained like a new born baby. Either a change of colour or a mix of wastage in the product makes Amchur usable,” he explained.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Nizamabad agriculture market committee selection grade secretary EVenkatesham said that Amchur prices ranged from `8,000 to Rs 33,500 per quintal based on quality. Compared with the previous years, the prices this season are not supportive, he said.
Replying to a question, he said there existed no syndicate of traders to reduce the Amchur prices. e-NAM will be used to finalise the prices of agricultural products in Nizamabad, he said.
Meanwhile, some farmers in Mahabubnagar and Rangareddy district procure mangoes from Bengaluru to prepare Amchur. Now, mangoes from Karnataka are not available in Telangana. It adversely affected the preparation of Amchur. The season will end by May and farmers are worried over the fall in prices for Amchur.
