Twitter
Advertisement

Maharashtra: Government offers onion farmers Rs 1 per kg

Farmers, opposition slam state for its promise of a ‘miniscule amount’ compared to the net production cost incurred

Latest News
article-main
Picture for representation purpose
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

After onion prices fell to a record low, Maharashtra government has proposed to provide subsidy of Rs100 per quintal (Rs1 per kg) against the Rs1,250 per quintal production cost.

Government sources said that the co-operation and marketing ministry had submitted its Rs100 per quintal subsidy proposal to the central government. "The Centre will bear half the cost of the total subsidy. We have to pay Rs 60 crores, while 50% of this amount will be borne by the Centre. Once the Centre approves this proposal, we will start giving the subsidy," said an official requesting anonymity.

Due to surplus onion yield, wholesale prices of onion drastically came down. Few days ago, farmers in Nashik sold onions at 5paise per kg. This year, the estimated production of the onion is 2.30 crore metric tonnes against domestic consumption of only 1.30 crore metric tonnes.

Nanasaheb Patil, chairman of Asia's largest onion agriculture product market committee, Lasalgaon, said that the net production cost of onion to the farmer was Rs1,250 per quintal and the government was giving miniscule amount of Rs100 per quintal. "30% of the stored onions by farmers in the the last few months got damaged. This year, all three yields of onion were not good and the farmers suffered losses. If the government will provide subsidy of Rs1 per kg, how will farmers survive?" questioned Patil.

Rajesh More, an onion farmer from Jalgaon, said that he couldn't even afford to take onions to market. "By taking the onion in market, what I will get? Therefore, I decided to dump all my onion production in our backyard only. There is no one in the government who understands the farmers' issue," said More.

Prithviraj Chavan, Congress leader and former chief minister said that it was failure on the part of the government in not anticipating the bumper production of onion. "Now, with such abysmal subsidy,the government is discouraging the farmers from not plating onion next year. There are many farmer leaders who are now ministers in this government. When we were in power, they demanded so much and protested even for the smallest issue. Now, when they are in power they are only providing subsidy of Rs1 per kg of onion," said Chavan

Nanasaheb Patil said that if at all the government was serious about the farmers plight, then they should provide subsidy for a minimum of Rs500 per quintal.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement