Unwanted food . . .

Today morning, we were wondering at the huge number of jackfruits which was there in front of our home at Othera. There was hardly any demand for the fruit and they were falling and rotting on the ground below the tree. 

One could only watch it. No market and too much for any family to have. We were on holiday . . . so there would be a higher demand. But, not enough demand for even 10% of the fruit on the tree. 

So, it was falling down and rotting . . . 

In India, plentifulness in the midst of poverty and hunger is not something new. Especially, stories of grain rotting off in the Food Corporation of India godowns are very commonly heard in almost all states of the country. 

I've seen how vegetables and fruits are discarded as the prices they fetch are too less for the farmers. We've had instances for vegetables being sold at throwaway prices in our neighbourhood at NJH.

And then, we lament about the malnutrition and poverty in the country.

If one goes to buy a jackfruit in the market in Ranchi, it is never less than 30 INR per kilogram. 

But, the fact is that there is no buyer for the fruit when someone wants to sell it at the site of cultivation. 

I hope you remember my post about tomatoes going waste in Daltonganj market. Today late morning, I was at the Othera vegetable market and the cost of 1 kilogram of tomato was 50 INR. 

One solution will be form federations of vegetable farmers who will be able to command a better price and market for their produce. Today morning, I was reading about the Karnataka Milk Federation which is selling it's products under the brand 'Nandini'. We also know the story of Amul. 

Some sort of a federation which would champion the cause of vegetables is something which could go a long way in the marketing of vegetables across the country and prevent the enormous wastage that's happening.