Good work by NDTV exposing these cartel. One of easiest way to break these family cartel is e-governance. Put all the details of cartel members and there background on website. Allow people to apply license online, and update reasons why they are rejected. Rejection rate of new licenses will put more light on such cabals.
@Indian: Step 1 - build huge cold storage units in place of Mandis.
Step 2 - Farmers go and deposit their produce there (Just like god repositories). They are not paid at this point. But every farmer gets a portfolio of produce deposited (For ex - 100 quintle tomatos, 25 KG onions etc)
Step 3 - Brokers sell the produce to retailers or to sub-traders at competitive price. (One broker responsible for 25 farmers)
Step 4 - After the produce is sold, for every trade money gets deposited in all 25 farmers' bank accounts (based on their share of the portfolio) minus the brokerage and storage/ shipping cost.
--- Make it work just like stock market. This way, if I want to buy onions, I'll place an order at the warehouse. My order gets routed to a broker and so on...
Hi Sreenivasan & team , brrriiiiilliant work!!!! . I am in US currently but I had nostalgia after seeing this video , I will tell you why. I am from Pimpalgaon , used to live next to onion market/mandi , in Gujarati colony where all of my friends(in same colony) father had licence for onion trading. My family background is agriculture background,all my uncles are farmers , in onion production.
I know both sides ( farmer's & trader's ) very well. I will tell you for sure,there is big conspiracy there.In cartel activities politians,traders are involved.Chaws you showed , there traders store the onion and create artificial shortage. Farmers representatives on government body are actually very rich farmers with no sympathy for poor farmer and busy achieving their personal targets in politics.Traders earning crores with their percentages...
I plz plz request you to take this story forward. It will help farmers and common man .. plz plz follow this story
Yet another excellent report by Sreenivasan Jain and his team - this is real journalism. I wish other journalists follow him rather than being subservient to political or businessmen bosses and give up sensationalism, hype and mala fide reporting.
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
1. small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically elected prices. I think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one for election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4% (Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
The third thing is hoarding - storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important in whose HANDS is it in, thus increasing transparency. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much they're selling it at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
Democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
One aspect that is not discussed much that forces who are inimical to NDA may be behind the trade leaders to jackup the prices, especially when moneys at their disposal can match the resources of the givernment of the day.
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically election system for these traders (it was scary to see some of the traders openly vouching for the head to become an MLA). I also think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one, for election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4% (Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
Three, the thing about hoarding - lets face it, storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important to monitor the price at which it was stored, and the price at which they are released - both should be same. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and should pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much they're selling it for at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
To sum up - democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their
tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone
gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically election system for these traders (it was scary to see some of the traders openly vouching for
the head to become an MLA). I also think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in
a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one, for
election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less
expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4%
(Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
Three, the thing about hoarding - lets face it, storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important to monitor the price at which it was stored, and the price at which they are released
- both should be same. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and should pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much
they're selling it for at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would
presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
To sum up - democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable
prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
Good work by NDTV exposing these cartel. One of easiest way to break these family cartel is e-governance. Put all the details of cartel members and there background on website. Allow people to apply license online, and update reasons why they are rejected. Rejection rate of new licenses will put more light on such cabals.
@Indian: Step 1 - build huge cold storage units in place of Mandis.
Step 2 - Farmers go and deposit their produce there (Just like god repositories). They are not paid at this point. But every farmer gets a portfolio of produce deposited (For ex - 100 quintle tomatos, 25 KG onions etc)
Step 3 - Brokers sell the produce to retailers or to sub-traders at competitive price. (One broker responsible for 25 farmers)
Step 4 - After the produce is sold, for every trade money gets deposited in all 25 farmers' bank accounts (based on their share of the portfolio) minus the brokerage and storage/ shipping cost.
--- Make it work just like stock market. This way, if I want to buy onions, I'll place an order at the warehouse. My order gets routed to a broker and so on...
@Indian: is licensing really necessary? why?
Very insightful and informative! Keep up the good work NDTV!
good job! look forward to more such reporting
Hi Sreenivasan & team , brrriiiiilliant work!!!! . I am in US currently but I had nostalgia after seeing this video , I will tell you why. I am from Pimpalgaon , used to live next to onion market/mandi , in Gujarati colony where all of my friends(in same colony) father had licence for onion trading. My family background is agriculture background,all my uncles are farmers , in onion production.
I know both sides ( farmer's & trader's ) very well. I will tell you for sure,there is big conspiracy there.In cartel activities politians,traders are involved.Chaws you showed , there traders store the onion and create artificial shortage. Farmers representatives on government body are actually very rich farmers with no sympathy for poor farmer and busy achieving their personal targets in politics.Traders earning crores with their percentages...
I plz plz request you to take this story forward. It will help farmers and common man .. plz plz follow this story
Yet another excellent report by Sreenivasan Jain and his team - this is real journalism. I wish other journalists follow him rather than being subservient to political or businessmen bosses and give up sensationalism, hype and mala fide reporting.
Wonderful root cause analysis....Government should bring a change in this area dispite having tough political opposition....
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
1. small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically elected prices. I think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one for election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4% (Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
The third thing is hoarding - storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important in whose HANDS is it in, thus increasing transparency. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much they're selling it at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
Democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
One aspect that is not discussed much that forces who are inimical to NDA may be behind the trade leaders to jackup the prices, especially when moneys at their disposal can match the resources of the givernment of the day.
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically election system for these traders (it was scary to see some of the traders openly vouching for the head to become an MLA). I also think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one, for election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4% (Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
Three, the thing about hoarding - lets face it, storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important to monitor the price at which it was stored, and the price at which they are released - both should be same. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and should pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much they're selling it for at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
To sum up - democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
PS: edited for corrections.
Awesome stuff. Just wow. Sreeni, Niha and their team rank as the top journalistic teams in my opinion. NDTV should keep this tradition of journalism alive even after this team and groom future journalists under their
tutelage. I'd even be willing to pay for such gripping, informative, on-the-ground and tough (by God) journalism efforts. Top class quality in India and I daresay internationally in on-field journalism.
Coming to this report, this is what I hear:
small number of traders, keeping the buying price from farmers low in collusion b/w themselves, earn large profits due to the large quantities of onions traded and the number of traders being small. I see no problem in anyone
gaining profit, except for the dubious process of traders colluding to keep buying prices low and there being no democratically election system for these traders (it was scary to see some of the traders openly vouching for
the head to become an MLA). I also think the assessment in the report is right that scrapping the mandi system will not do much as the kirana system is still alive and kicking. Unless retail chains are encouraged to thrive in
a massive way reaching all pockets of a city (but which is a difficult process), that neighbourhood grocery system will stay which in turn means the mandis also need to be there. That means democratic elections, one, for
election of traders who are NOT associated with the politically affiliated heads of these mandis. And two, the lesser the number of touchpoints b/w the farmer and the end consumer (nasik mandi to azadpur mandi), the less
expensive it will be in the hands of the common man. So if say both Nasik and Azadpur Mandis are brought under the ambit of a single supply chain handler, say a centralized goverment authority or a Walmart, wouldn't the 4%
(Nasik) + 6% (Azadpur) rise from source come down?
Three, the thing about hoarding - lets face it, storage is necessary for future contingencies like a bad monsoon etc., but it is important to monitor the price at which it was stored, and the price at which they are released
- both should be same. Since the mandi traders get their 4% anyway in normal times, they should not be allowed to take further advantages during shortages and should pass on the stored onions at the same price. How much
they're selling it for at at any given point of time can best be known by an e-governance system to report into for checks and balances as a previous poster suggested. If a Walmart-style model is adopted, then they would
presumably have such transparent systems already in place.
To sum up - democratic elections for traders, reducing the number of intermediaries from farmer-to-enduser and an e-governance system for the intermediaries to report their selling price is the best way to have reasonable
prices in the hands of the common man. That, or encouraging a private retail chain model which will obviate the need for the above - requires a hell of an investment and retail policy reform though.
Once again, thanks for this report and all the previous stellar ones, its the part of NDTV I like best! Keep going and continue the tradition by grooming future such journalists.
ps: eidted