Peanut sellers, farmers reel under double whammy

BENGALURU: From Ramakrishna Circle till Dodda Basavana Gudi, Bull Temple Road is awash with kadlekai. Mounds of unshelled peanuts from neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh as well as from within the state await buyers and visitors from far and near. Salted, boiled, roasted or plain -- they’re sold in all avatars, along with an array of other items during the annual two-day fair that kicked off on Monday.
Farmers and traders, who would have normally earned between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000 during the kadlekai parishe, are reeling under a double whammy.The crop has been less compared to previous years because of reduced rainfall and drought-like situation in many parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. What’s worse, sellers don’t have enough change when people hand over a Rs 2,000 note for small purchases and even potential buyers walk away empty-handed. Traders say due to the lack of supply, a sack of peanuts, which usually costs between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000, costs nearly Rs 7,0000 this year.
Kavita, a 40-year-old peanut-seller from Kempe Gowda Nagar, has been coming to this far with her father, Manohar, ever since she was a child. She says business has never been so dull. “We bought peanuts at a high rate from Andhra Pradesh and now we’re forced to sell it for a much lower rate. Those who buy in bulk, like large families and devotees who offer it in temple, simply walk away when we can’t give them change. Those lucky enough to have change are able to clinch some sales,” she says, even as a customer buys just 2kgs, and not his intended 3kgs, from her due to lack of change.
Deepak, a peanut-seller from Hogenakkal, says their business has slumped due to demonetization. “People don’t have money to spend on these things. They buy the bare minimum to offer to the deity but nothing more. Moreover, we have to pay cops to allow us to sit here for a long timer and spend more money to buy microfibre packets because of the plastic ban. All this is eating into our income,” he said.
Chenamma, a 90-year-old seller, who has been frequenting the market for the past 50 years, says she hasn’t made any sales despite sitting in the sun since morning. “When people hear the rates, they just walk away,” she says.
Regulars to the festival, nevertheless, rave about all it has to offer, while admitting it has lost its sheen. Geeta, a resident of Balaji Layout, has been coming to shop to the fair for the past five years. “It’s one of the best things about Bengaluru. It has a holy purpose as we make an offering to the Gods and we feel good about it. But this year, I don’t feel like buying a lot as the rates are high. I’ll just buy enough to lay it before the idol,” she said.