Farmers’ protest against Kadda Pratha spreads across Saurashtra ahead of Mahapanchayat

Rajkot | Gujarat — The farmers’ protest against Kadda Pratha — a controversial crop auction system — has rapidly evolved from a local issue in Botad into a major farmers’ uprising across Saurashtra. With the upcoming Mahapanchayat on October 31 in Sudamda village, Surendranagar, tensions are running high, and authorities are on alert to prevent any escalation.

Kadda Pratha: A system under fire

The centuries-old Kadda Pratha governs how farmers’ crops are auctioned at Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs). Under this system, each “Kaddo” — a pile of harvested produce such as cotton or groundnut — is weighed, inspected, and auctioned publicly. However, farmers allege that the process is rigged in favor of powerful trader cartels that manipulate bids to purchase produce at low prices.

According to farmer unions, this system has caused massive financial losses across Saurashtra. Estimates suggest that farmers collectively lose over ₹500 crore annually due to rate manipulation and unfair auctions.

Botad protest sparks regional unrest

The first major spark ignited at Botad Marketing Yard, where hundreds of farmers staged a sit-in demanding an end to the exploitative Kadda Pratha. When talks with officials failed, the protest turned violent — stones were pelted, police vehicles were damaged, and more than 60 protesters were detained.

The unrest quickly spread beyond Botad, with similar demonstrations now taking place in Rajkot, Amreli, and Surendranagar districts. Fearing a repeat of the Botad clashes, district administrations have deployed additional police forces and tightened surveillance around market yards and key highways.

Farmers unite for fair pricing

Farmers insist that their movement is not politically motivated but driven by years of frustration over unfair crop prices and middlemen exploitation. They demand that the state government scrap the Kadda system entirely and introduce transparent, digital auction mechanisms.

Government procurement, which could have offered relief, has often been plagued by red tape and delays, allowing private traders to dominate the market. “We work hard for an entire year, but the system is designed to profit only the traders,” said a farmer from Amreli.

Government in damage control mode

Alarmed by the scale of the protests, the Gujarat government has announced an agricultural relief package and promised reforms in the APMC system. However, farmers have rejected the proposal as “temporary appeasement,” insisting that their main demand — abolition of Kadda Pratha — be met before harvest losses deepen.

Mahapanchayat to decide next course

The upcoming farmers’ Mahapanchayat in Sudamda is expected to attract thousands of farmers from across Saurashtra. It could become a turning point in the movement, setting the tone for future protests and possibly influencing the region’s political landscape ahead of local elections.