Kalamna APMC soaked in trauma, farmers & traders count losses

Nagpur: The unseasonal rains on Wednesday night left the Kalamna Market yard — dubbed to be the biggest in Asia — waterlogged leading to damage to sacks of grains left in the open by a section of traders. According to informal estimates, sacks running into tens of thousands were lying in the open. However, the officials at Kalamna Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) have denied any losses.The market yard at Hinganghat in Wardha, also a major centre for trading in farm goods in the region, was hit by rains too. Sources said the losses in Hinganghat were higher compared to Kalamna.Many parts of the Kalamna yard, that have been dug up due to road construction work, were left waterlogged. A trip around the yard also showed drenched sacks of grains and piles of other farm produce.Kalamna APMC secretary, Dinesh Chandel, an officer from the cooperative department, said a thorough inspection was carried out and there has been no reported case of losses either by farmers or the traders. Once the produce is sold, it is traders' loss even if it is soaked in rain. The farmers bear the brunt if the produce remains unsold, sources said. Chandel said traders are time and again instructed to keep the stock in auction halls instead of leaving it in the open. Lately, even tarpaulin covers have been procured, he said.Sudhir Kothari, the chairman of the Hinganghat APMC, said a sizable amount of grain was damaged due to the rains. However, most of it was already sold by farmers, he said. A source said that a chilli stock was damaged too as jute sacks were kept in the open.