Middlemen Gain as Farmers Earn Less in Agri Produce: RBI | 11 Oct 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

The four working papers released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), indicated that during periods of high inflation in the fruits and vegetables sector, middlemen and retailers appeared to capture a significant portion of the price paid by consumers, thereby benefiting at the expense of farmers.

What are the Key Findings of the RBI Papers? 

• Four working papers from the RBI's Department of Economy & Policy Research found that farmers received a much lower share of the consumer rupee in the case of fruits (e.g., bananas, grapes, mangoes) and essential vegetables (e.g., tomatoes, onions, potatoes) compared to dairy, poultry, and pulses. 
  • According to the paper Livestock and Poultry Inflation in India: 
    • Farmers receive about 70% of the consumer rupee for milk and 75% for eggs. 
    • For poultry meat, farmers and aggregators together receive about 56%. 
    • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Milk shows price fluctuations influenced by factors like feed costs and availability. 
      • Higher availability of milk results in lower prices. 
      • Higher feed costs lead to increased milk prices. 
  • The paper Price Dynamics and Value Chain of Fruits in India estimates: 
    • Farmers receive about 31% of the consumer rupee for bananas, 35% for grapes and 43% for mangoes. 
    • Grape farming is capital and labor-intensive and price volatility is influenced by seasonality, climate conditions, and input costs. 
      • Grape production is concentrated in Maharashtra and Karnataka. 
      • Exports grapes primarily to the Netherlands and Bangladesh, while imports from China. 
  • The paper Pulses Inflation in India finds: 
    • Farmers receive 75% of the consumer rupee for gram (chana), 70% for moong and 65% for tur. 
    • Both demand and supply-side factors, such as stock levels, rural wages, input costs, and structural bottlenecks, are determinants of pulses inflation. 
  • The paper Vegetables Inflation in India estimates: 
    • Farmers receive 33% for tomatoes, 36% for onions, 37% for potatoes. 
    • Key factors affecting vegetable inflation are input costs, rainfall, and wages, along with supply-side shocks like weather conditions and market behavior. 
    • Vegetable prices are highly volatile due to short crop cycles, perishability, regional production concentration, and seasonal weather conditions. 

What are the Measures Suggested by the RBI Research Papers? 

• Fruits and Vegetables: 
  • Expanding Private Markets: To reduce dependency on middlemen and enhance market access for farmers.  
    • Expanding such markets can encourage competitive pricing and reduce the inefficiencies in traditional wholesale markets (mandis).  
  • Government Initiatives: Measures such as buffer stocks, Price Stabilization Fund (PSF), and the Operation Greens scheme aim to reduce price volatility and increase value realization for farmers. 
  • Enhancing Use of the e-NAM Platform: Promoting the use of the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform is critical for ensuring transparency and reducing price distortions. 
  • Promoting Farmer Collectives: Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are being promoted to empower small and marginal farmers.  
    • FPOs can help farmers pool resources, enhance bargaining power, and improve access to inputs, credit, and markets.  
  • Building Cold Storage Facilities: To minimise post-harvest losses, particularly for perishable fruits and vegetables. India loses about 30-40% of its fruits and vegetables due to inadequate cold storage.  
    • Increased investment in cold chain infrastructure can extend the shelf life of produce, stabilizing prices and benefiting both farmers and consumers. 
• Pulses: 
  • Infrastructure Improvements: Need for structural reforms in agricultural markets such as investment in rural infrastructure.  
    • These measures are essential for ensuring sustained price stability and improving farmers' income over the long term. 
  • Varietal Development for Higher Yields: Promote climate-resilient and short-duration seed varieties to enhance production.  
    • For example, ICAR’s Pusa Arhar-16 reduces the maturity period of tur from 180 to 120 days, increasing yield by 15%.  
  • Scaling up Procurement and Buffer Reserves: Strengthen government procurement of domestic and imported pulses for market intervention.  
    • National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India’s strategic buffer stock has helped manage inflation. 
• Milk:  
  • Rationalising Trade Policy: Adjust tariffs on imported products like skimmed milk powder (SMP) and butter to stabilise prices, while protecting domestic farmers.  
  • Promoting Germplasm Imports: Relax restrictions on importing cattle/buffalo germplasm to introduce temperate breeds for crossbreeding, thus boosting milk productivity in the medium to long term. 
  • Enhancing Value Chain Infrastructure: Prioritise investment in bulk milk chilling (BMC) centers, modern dairy plants, and small processing units.  
    • Improved processing and storage infrastructure will enhance the export competitiveness of dairy products. 
  • Integrated Animal Health Plans: Establish fast medical response units to tackle frequent disease outbreaks like foot-and-mouth disease. 
• Policy Suggestions for Poultry Sector: 
  • Removing Trade Policy Distortions: Rationalise duties on poultry imports, particularly during periods of high demand, to reduce meat inflation and increase market competition. 
  • Developing Infrastructure: Encourage FDI and public-private partnerships (PPP) to improve cold chain facilities, processing infrastructure, and farm management. 
  • Reducing Production Costs: Prioritise policies to enhance high quality maize and soybean productivity, as they constitute the bulk of poultry feed costs.  
  • Institutional Support for Small Producers: Encourage the collectivisation of small poultry farmers to improve access to quality inputs and markets. 
    • Cooperative models such as Amul could help smallholders reduce transaction costs and gain fair prices. 

Conclusion 

Despite farmers' contributions to the economy, their share of the consumer rupee remains disproportionately low, particularly in the fruits and vegetables sector. Addressing these disparities is essential for fostering a more equitable distribution of income and ensuring that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. Comprehensive policy measures are necessary to empower farmers, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the overall efficiency of the agricultural sector.