Farmer distress sales
Farmers are forced to sell onions, tomatoes and potatoes at harvest lows of ₹3-5/kg with no MSP, no price protection and no alternative buyer.
India's vegetable supply chain breaks at the point farmers need protection most.
Odisha's farming families face distress sales, post-harvest wastage, and price volatility that hurts both farmers and consumers.
Post-harvest wastage
India wastes a major share of fresh produce after harvest due to limited cold storage. The same shortage later creates artificial consumer price spikes.
Middlemen exploitation
Produce passes through multiple intermediary layers. Farmers often receive only a small share of final retail value while consumers pay peak rates.
Three linked failures
Low farmgate prices, high consumer prices, and weak storage are the same problem seen from different sides.
- 1.1 Cr+ farming families in Odisha exposed to seasonal distress sales.
- Vegetable prices can swing 5-15x between harvest and lean season.
- Less than 6% of Odisha's perishable produce has access to cold storage infrastructure.