Akola Mahabeej has almost doubled the price of soybean seeds in this year’s kharif season. The price hike is Rs 130 to Rs 145 per kg. Last year, a 30 kg bag of soybeans fetched around Rs 2,250. This year, the same bag will cost Rs 3,900 to Rs 4,350. Therefore, farmers will have to suffer financially.
This season, farmers are facing inflation in all respects. Already, the price of chemical fertilizers has skyrocketed, the cost of cultivation has gone up due to increase in diesel and petrol prices, and now the seeds of Mahabeez have become more expensive than expected. The Mahabeej administration recently announced their rates. The price of soybean has doubled compared to last season, which has raised concerns among farmers.
Soybeans were damaged by rains during the harvest last season. Therefore, the expected amount of raw seeds was not obtained. Summer soybean cultivation was used to obtain seeds. However, due to extreme heat, the expected soybean seeds could not be obtained even from the summer season this year. As a result, the supply of Mahabeez soybean seeds will be less than the demand. Moreover, since the government has already advised Mahabeej not to purchase seeds from outside, they will have to supply seeds to the farmers throughout the season on the available seeds only.
Mahabeej produces seeds from shareholders. In December-January, raw seeds are procured by giving a few per cent bonus on the rates received by the market committee. The price of seeds is determined on the basis of processing, packing, transportation to customers, profit from sales and other costs. Soybeans were more expensive in December-January this year. Therefore, the shareholders will be paid the rate for that period. However, since soybeans have been selling expensively for months, the effect is now being seen on seed prices.
Private companies will also increase rates
The rates of most companies are fixed at the rate of Mahabeej seeds in each season. With Mahabeej itself raising rates this year, there is a possibility that the rates of private companies will also increase significantly. Soybean seeds have started entering the market. If the rains arrive early, the rush to buy seeds may increase. Private companies can now also take advantage of the rising rates of Mahabeez.
