Farmers receive only one-third of what consumer pays for vegetables, fruits: RBI study
Mumbai: A study published by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revealed that Indian farmers earn only about one-third of the prices consumers pay for tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (collectively known as TOP), with the majority of the share going to wholesalers and retailers.
The study found that farmers receive approximately 33% of the consumer price for tomatoes, 36% for onions, and 37% for potatoes. In comparison, farmers in the dairy sector benefit more significantly, getting around 70% of the final price.
Further analysis of the fruit market indicated that farmers receive 31% of the final price for bananas, 35% for grapes, and 43% for mangoes in the domestic market.
Meanwhile, pulses show a better scenario for farmers, with around 75% of the consumer price for gram (chana) returning to them, and 70% for moong and 65% for tur.
The study also highlighted that unlike cereals and dairy products, where procurement and marketing are relatively developed, TOP vegetables, which are amongst the largest produced and consumed vegetables in the country, lack an efficient value chain system. Factors contributing to this inefficiency include short seasonal crop cycles, perishability, regional concentration, and inadequate storage facilities.
The authors of the study pointed out that many farmers resort to discarding their crops or selling them at distress prices during the flush season. Conversely, in lean seasons, consumers face significantly higher prices.
This boom-and-bust cycle of TOP arises from an inefficient marketing system and a lack of well-integrated value chains, leading to an increasing gap between what farmers earn and what consumers pay, the study added.
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Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of news over dog bite leading to rabies
New Delhi(PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a media report of dog bite incident leading to rabies, saying it contained some "alarming and disturbing figures".
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan termed the news item published today in Delhi edition of English daily Times of India as "very disturbing and alarming".
The news report was about the death of a six-year-old girl, who was attacked by a rabid stray dog, in the national capital.
Taking cognisance of the news report, the bench said, "The news item contains some alarming and disturbing figures and facts."
It said every day, hundreds of dog bites were being reported in the city and on its outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately, children and aged were falling prey to the dreadful disease.
"We take suo motu cognisance of this news item," the bench ordered.
It asked the apex court registry to register it as a suo motu petition in public interest.
"Let this order be placed along with the news report before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders," the bench said.
On July 15, while hearing a separate plea alleging harassment over feeding of community dogs in Noida, the apex court had asked the petitioner, "Why don't you feed them in your own house?"
The top court told the petitioner's counsel, "We should leave every lane, every road open for these large hearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you."
The observations came in a plea arising out of a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court.
The petitioner claimed harassment and said she was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
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