Telangana: Price fluctuations make red gram farmers jittery

This sharp decline has caused significant distress among farmers, who rely on red gram as a major source of income.In Suryapet, one of the largest regulatory markets for red gram in Telangana, the season started on Tuesday with the arrival of just one lot, quoted at around Rs.6,800 per quintal

Hyderabad: Price fluctuations and market instability are causing unrest among farmers in Telangana. Red gram farmers in Narayanpet district staged a demonstration protesting against the sudden price drop of Rs.2,000 per quintal.

This sharp decline has caused significant distress among farmers, who rely on red gram as a major source of income.In Suryapet, one of the largest regulatory markets for red gram in Telangana, the season started on Tuesday with the arrival of just one lot, quoted at around Rs.6,800 per quintal.

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As of December 2024, the average market price for red gram in Telangana is approximately Rs.7,305 per quintal. However, prices have varied considerably across different markets.

In Narayanpet, prices were as high as Rs 10,537 per quintal on Monday, only to drop by Rs 2,000 the following day. Farmers are demanding an immediate increase in the purchase price of red gram.

They are also calling for measures to stabilize prices and protect them from sudden drops. Additionally, they seek government intervention to ensure fair pricing and support for red gram farmers.The State government is yet to respond to the farmers’ demands.

The situation remains tense as farmers continue to protest, seeking immediate action to address their concerns. As of December 2024, the area under red gram cultivation in Telangana is approximately 2.28 lakh hectares (around 5.63 lakh acres), slightly up from 2.27 lakh hectares (approximately 5.56 lakh acres) the previous year.

Major red gram-growing districts in Telangana include Vikarabad, Sangareddy, Narayanpet, Adilabad, Asifabad, Mahabubnagar, and Rangareddy.

The red gram market is expected to stabilize as India has maintained a steady export rate, with exports growing by 6.31% from April – November this year. The US remained one of the largest markets for Indian red gram.

Mahabubnagar district, covering around 1.1 lakh hectares, is particularly notable for its major red gram cultivation. Prof. R. Vijayalakshmi at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (market intelligence centre) predicts that the market price for red gram is expected to stabilize between Rs 8,000 and Rs 9,000 per quintal.

Agriculture Market intelligence Centre of the University is all set to release its market outlook report December 2024 for red gram very soon.