Maharashtra: A Day After Sharad-Uddhav Meet, Ajit Pawar Meets CM Shinde, Seeks Relief For Cashew Farmers

Ajit Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party leader, met Maharashtra's Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and requested a support price of Rs 160 per kg for cashew seeds on Wednesday.

This comes as farmers are facing issues due to the price of cashew falling by 25-30 per cent, whilst traders are benefiting from the situation.

Pawar submitted a letter to Shinde requesting compensation for Maharashtra farmers affected by untimely rainfall and hailstorm. In the letter he highlighted the impact of this on cashew production and also criticised the arbitrary policies of cashew traders causing more harm to farmers.

“While cashew nut production is adversely affected due to natural calamities, injustice is being done to farmers due to the arbitrary policies of the traders. Cashew farmers are not getting fair prices for cashew seeds.

"In order to stop the exploitation of cashew producers, the government should announce a guaranteed price of Rs 160 for cashew seeds by suppressing the arbitrary policy of traders,” Pawar said in the letter.

This comes amid NCP chief Sharad Pawar's meeting with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, to ensure that MVA's leaders speak with a single, consistent voice before the public.

Sharad Pawar in the meeting had expressed his discontent with MVA's leaders for publicly sharing their conflicting opinions. He also stated that he might attend an upcoming MVA rally.