Kolhapur: Farmers at the Kolhapur Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) halted jaggery transactions on Monday in protest against falling prices, leaving 50,000 quintals of jaggery unsold. In a meeting chaired by APMC Chairperson Prakash Desai, it was decided that any transaction below ₹3,800 per quintal would be cancelled. The meeting also resolved to resume regular transactions from Tuesday and to conduct separate transactions for jaggery arriving from Karnataka.
Before Diwali, jaggery prices ranged between ₹4,000 and ₹4,800 per quintal. During Diwali Padwa transactions, prices increased to ₹4,300-₹5,600 per quintal. However, prices have since dropped significantly, with Monday’s transactions offering only ₹3,500-₹3,600 per quintal.
Angered by the low prices, farmers collectively decided to stop transactions, declaring that they would not accept deals below ₹3,800 per quintal. Taking note of the situation, Secretary Jaywant Patil called for a meeting with the farmers. Senior Director Bharat Patil-Bhuyekar, along with farmers Amit Patil, Dilip Patil (Khupire), and Dilip Ambekar (Vadange), attended the meeting. During the discussions, the decision to cancel deals offering lower prices was finalized.
