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The unbelievably tragic reason why this Indian farmer only earns Rs. 1 from selling 1000kg of onions

01:13 PM | 25 May, 2016
The unbelievably tragic reason why this Indian farmer only earns Rs. 1 from selling 1000kg of onions
MUMBAI (Web Desk) - While the tragic incidents of suicides of farmers make headlines in India, an Indian farmer has revealed that he was only able to earn 1 rupee after selling 952kg onions.

Devidas Parbhane, a 48-year-old Maharashtra resident, said that he was expecting to earn at least Rs. 3 per kilogram at the district Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), however he was shattered when he came back home and found out how much money he had actually earned.

According to Hindustan Times, Parbhane had grown onions in his two acres land at a cost of  Rs. 80,000 and was able to harvest around 952kg onions at the end of season.

On May 10, he carried the onions to a Pune-based market via truck. He received Rs. 16 for every 10 kg of onions he sold, meaning a meagre Rs. 1.60 for every one kg of onions.

Devidas Parbhane received a total amount of Rs1,523.2 and out of it, the broker took Rs 91.35 as his commission, Rs 59 and Rs 18.55 were paid to labourers, and Rs 33.30 were spent on meeting other formalities.

From the remaining cash, he paid Rs. 1,320 to the truck driver, leaving only Rs. 1 to take home himself.

While narrating his story, he said that every day there was news about farmer committing suicide in drought-hit regions, adding that with onion prices so low, he will soon also meet a similar fate.

For four months, I and my family took care of our land and watered the onions, and in the end I am unable to recover even my expenditures, he said.

 

Ali Zain is a member of the staff at Daily Pakistan Global. He earned BS Communication Studies degree from University of the Punjab. His thesis titled "Cultural Continuity and Mass Media: An analysis of leading online newspapers of Pakistan" has been published as a book in Germany. He has also translated David Mathews' book "The Ecology of Democracy" into Urdu. He tweets at @alimaan.

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Pakistan Open Market Forex Rates - Rupee foreign exchange rate against US Dollar, other currencies - 1 May 2024

Pakistani currency rates against US Dollar and other currencies on May 1, 2024 Wednesday in open market.

USD to PKR rate today

US dollar was being quoted at 277.25 for buying and 280.15 for selling.

Euro comes down to 293.5 for buying and 296.5 for selling while British Pound hovers at 344.45 for buying, and 347.85 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED was at 75 and Saudi Riyal's new rate was at 73.35.

Today’s currency exchange rates in Pakistan - 1 May 2024

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar USD 277.35 280
Bahrain Dinar BHD 740.35 748.35
Canadian Dollar CAD 203 205
China Yuan CNY 38.49 38.89
Danish Krone DKK 40 40.4
Euro EUR 293.5 296.5
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 35.57 35.92
Indian Rupee INR 3.34 3.45
Japanese Yen JPY 1.86 1.94
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 904.08 913.08
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 58.33 58.93
NewZealand Dollar NZD 166.25 168.25
Norwegians Krone NOK 25.32 25.62
Omani Riyal OMR 722.99 730.99
Qatari Riyal QAR 76.48 77.18
Saudi Riyal SAR 73.35 74
Singapore Dollar SGD 204.5 206.5
Swedish Korona SEK 25.46 25.76
Swiss Franc CHF 305.64 308.14
Thai Bhat THB 7.52 7.67
U.A.E Dirham AED 75 75.75
UK Pound Sterling GBP 344.45 347.85
Australian Dollar AUD 179.2 181

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