Most major agriculture mandis in central India are witnessing decline in commodity supplies and dull trade ahead of elections, claimed traders.
"Both buyers and sellers are probably busy in election activities like campaigning," said Kamlesh N, a soybean and grain trader in Indore.
Farmers take keen interest in election campaign and markets lack funds as it gets diverted to election activities, claimed traders.
Soybean arrivals were 275,000 bags (100 kg each) on Wednesday compared with 375,000 bags a week ago, said traders.
Mandi traders said arrivals showed some improvement last week compared with beginning of November but declined again due to election activities and dull trade.
Soybean is a rain-fed kharif crop and is most traded in Madhya Pradesh mandis after October. Other major crops traded in Madhya Pradesh mandis are wheat, chana and pulses which are showing a similar trend.
"Wheat and desi chana supplies from farmers are negligible at present as these are rabi crops and farmers sell most of it by now but traded quantity has certainly gone down compared with beginning of November," said a Indore mandi official.
North eastern Madhya Pradesh mandis like Neemuch, Ratlam and Badnavar where cotton is majorly traded during this time also reported reduced arrivals compared with a week ago, said traders. "Last week, we saw arrivals of around 5,000 bales which are now down to 2,500-3,000 bales," said Rakesh Chopra, a cotton trader. Agriculture commodities supply is likely to decline further in the coming days as many mandis will remain closed on election dates in the state.
