Bayad: The farmers staged protest at Bayad market yard here alleging a cartel formed by the merchants for auction of farm produce.

Over 30 farmers from Choila village including Sureshbhai Kalabhai Patel, Ashokbhai Muljibhai Patel arrived at Bayad market yard with tractors filled with millet. The farmers alleged that no marchant came there when the auction was started. Only two merchants were there in the auction. The farmers got agitated after the merchants claimed the millet price to be Rs 400 instead of the price of Rs 415 already stated in the auction. The farmers alleged that the merchants have formed a cartel and they cheat the farmers in the name of auction.

Choila village farmer Ashok Patel alleged that the farmers are cheated by deciding higher prices for less stock and lower prices for more stock. The auction should be done with the prices higher than the support price, he said. All merchants should come to the auction when the bell rings but they don’t, he said and added that the merchants directly do the auction. DeshGujarat