Traders’ protest could lead to food shortage in Jharkhand

RANCHI, Jharkhand: Jharkhand could face a food shortage as traders in protest have stopped buying consumable items from other states.

The traders of Jharkhand are on the roads protesting against the plan of the state government to introduce a market fee in the state. Traders have come together under the banner of the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Jharkhand State Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing Bill 2022, has been approved by the state legislative assembly and is waiting for the Governor’s assent.

The managing director of the Jharkhand State Agricultural Market Board (JSAMB) has told the PTI, “Once the new rule comes into force, 2% market fee will be realised on non-perishable items and 1% on perishable items.”

The market fee was applicable on the food items sold in the state mandis before 2015.

Traders have said that the current situation could lead to a food shortage and hike in the prices of other consumable items in the state as Jharkhand is dependent on key food items such as Rice, Pulses, edible oil, Potato and Onion. This shortage will be felt in a few days as right now, retailers and the wholesalers have stocks that could last up to 3-4 days.

Currently, there are six mandis in Jharkhand, two of them are in Ranchi, and the others are in Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Jamshedpur, and Deoghar.