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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DGCA advisory to airlines on potential rudder system issue in Boeing 737 planes
New Delhi, Oct 7: Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday issued an advisory to Indian airlines operating Boeing 737 planes regarding the potential risk of a jammed rudder control system.
The move follows the recent probe report by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that highlighted safety concerns involving Boeing 737 aircraft lanes equipped with Collins Aerospace SVO-730 Rudder Rollout Guidance Actuators.
Against the backdrop of the potential risk of a jammed or restricted rudder control system, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued safety recommendations to the Indian carriers.
Currently, Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet operate Boeing 737 planes.
In August, Boeing informed affected operators of 737 planes about the potential condition with the rudder rollout guidance actuator.
A SpiceJet spokesperson said none of its Boeing 737 NG aircraft are impacted.
DGCA said all flight crews are to be informed through a circular/advisory regarding the possibility of a jammed or restricted rudder control system.
"Appropriate mitigations must be communicated to help crews identify and handle such a situation," it added.
Further, all operators have been asked to conduct a safety risk assessment for aircraft to evaluate and mitigate the risk associated with the rudder control system.
The regulator also said that all Category III B approach, landing, and rollout operations, including practice or actual autoland, must be discontinued for these planes until further notice. Category III B pertains to operations in low visibility conditions.
Among other measures, airlines have been asked to mandatorily include discussion about potential rudder control system issues as a mandatory topic in recurrent training sessions.
It will also be included in the Instrument Rating/Proficiency Checks (IR/PPC) during pre-simulator briefings.
"Operators have been instructed to include specific exercises in Recurrent Training and IR/PPC that simulate scenarios involving a jammed or restricted rudder control system, including rollout procedures.
"Appropriate flight crew responses and mitigations should be practised during these exercises," the regulator said in a release.
DGCA also said the interim measures aim to enhance safety and ensure that flight crews are well-prepared to handle potential rudder control issues effectively.
The rudder rollout guidance actuator is designed to control the rudder's movement during Category III B approach, landing and rollout operations.
On September 27, Boeing in a statement had said that in August, it had informed affected 737 operators of a potential condition with the rudder rollout guidance actuator, which is part of an option autoland system.
"The autoland system includes layers of redundancy and we are working with our supplier to develop additional guidance to address the potential condition," it had said.
