Distress sales of garlic, complain farmers

Govt agencies are seeking Aadhaar number, land registration paper in seller's name before procuring

Despite an output decline of about a fifth, which normally supports a price rise, farmers are selling garlic at reduced prices, they complain, due to stringent procurement norms from government agencies.

At the benchmark Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) Agricultural Produce Market Committee yard, the average quality is quoting at Rs 10 a kg, the modal price being around Rs 25 a kg. In Pipliya (Madhya Pradesh) mandi, which contributes nearly a fourth of India's entire quantity of arrivals, garlic is selling at Rs 13 a kg. In Allahabad, garlic has lost around a quarter of its value in the past month to