Dimapur, November 5 (MExN): It looks like the alleged “syndicate system” or trade monopoly is conveniently running unopposed in the market in Dimapur despite palpable public protestations.
Crying foul over such a scenario, the Dimapur Poultry Farmers Association (DPFA) submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, seeking intervention.
According to the DPFA, “the poultry business is fully controlled by some individuals” in nexus with a “few locals" with vested interested locals. This, it said, has completely sidelined local farmers, who are unable to gain a foothold in the poultry market.
“No farmers are allowed to sell directly to the retailers. The unwillingness of the wholesale dealers to promote our local farmers is the greatest stumbling block of the farmers,” it highlighted in the letter.
It alleged that there are about 5-6 companies in the border of Assam and Nagaland which controls price based on monopoly system.
It said that the existing monopoly in the poultry trade renders the farmers unable to compete fairly. It pointed to unethical pricing manipulation together with control of production units and feed mills unfairly outcompeting the local poultry farmers.
“Whenever there is local product, they bring down the price and when there is no production they shoot up the price as high as 125/-per kg,” the DPFA said.
Monopoly of hatcheries and feed mills has given rise to wide gap in production cost between the companies and the local farmers harming the latter, it added.
As a result, the farmers have to bear higher costs for hatchlings, whose prices, it said, goes as high as Rs. 56 per chick. It added that inclusive of the cost feeds, the price further escalates.
It said that the perceived unfair system has greatly harmed the business of around 200-300 local farmers in Dimapur alone; while a handful of farmers, who have persisted, are facing huge problems and on the verge of shutting down.
The letter, appended by DPFA President Dr S Kithan and General Secretary P Aloto Zhimomi, sought the intervention of the Deputy Commissioner “to help the farmers sell our product at minimum profitable rate.”
“Your Kind help will enable the local farmers to grow and generate self employment for our local educated unemployed people,” it added.
