MSP for vanilla beans demanded

Bangalore, Dec 2 (UNI) The Vanilla Growers' Association of India has demanded that the Union and State Governments announce a minimum support price of Rs 1,500 per kg for processed vanilla beans to protect the interests of farmers.

Association President Rajesh N Jagdale told reporters here today that it had appealed to the Governments to intervene to help save the life of farmers and their families as they were unable to bear the cost of harvesting, interest payments, repayment of loans and their expenses.

The international price of vanilla had crashed and in the absence of domestic demand, the entire farming community have been left high and dry, he rued.

''We have also urged to identify the State Trading Corporation as the nodal agency for procurement of at least 200 mt of cured and processed natural beans this year,'' Mr Jagdale said.

Unfortunately, there was no favourable response for all the pleas which had put the entire farming community into hardship, he said.

UNI SIV GD TS1847