Auction resumes at Dhar mandi after Diwali; first soybean lot sells at Rs 10,001 a quintal

Auctions of farm produce resumed at the agricultural produce market (mandi) in Dhar after Deepavali. The reopening was held amid festive enthusiasm. The Grain, Pulses and Oilseeds Trade Development Committee organised the event, with Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena attending as chief guest. The programme began with a puja of Goddess Mahalakshmi, after which the auction started with traditional rites and rituals.

Soybean brought in bullock carts was auctioned first, under the token system. Entry slips of the bullock carts that had come for sale were collected, and Collector Meena drew the first slip. It was that of Bahadur, a farmer from Kalamkhedi village. His soybean was auctioned and the firm Chanchal Traders bought it at Rs 10,001 per quintal. Auctions were then held for the second and third slips as well. With this, the daily routine of produce auctions began at the mandi.

Those present included Rajkumar Haldar, the officer in charge of the mandi committee; mandi secretary M.R. Jamre; traders' association president Anantkumar Agrawal; secretary Mukesh Rathore; and treasurer Ashish Jain. Other office-bearers and members of the association also attended, along with prominent residents of the city. The guests were welcomed at the auction site with a band.

At the end, mandi secretary Jamre extended Diwali greetings to all farmers and traders of the area who come to the mandi premises, and to the hammal and tulavati (loading and weighing) workers, on the start of produce purchases after Deepavali.