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Onion set to burn hole in pockets again as farmers refuse to blink

enraged farmers, for the first time in the history of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee in Nashik, withdrew their produce.

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The wholesale onion markets in Nashik remained closed on the 11th consecutive day after the central government imposed a ban on onion exports.

On Monday, enraged farmers, for the first time in the history of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee in Nashik, withdrew their produce. Not a single onion was sold.

Nashik contributes to 60% of the country’s onion requirement.  If the government does not resolve the problem faced by farmers soon, onion prices are likely to skyrocket.

The current retail price of onion is Rs14-16 per kg in Mumbai and it is expected to increase to Rs 20-24 soon.

The wholesale rates, however, have not seen any significant change.

“By next week, people may have to buy onions for Rs 20-24 a kg as no fresh stock is coming into the market. The government needs to overhaul the system, which will benefit both the farmer and consumers,” said Vijay Ahvad, an onion vendor from Mumbai.

Following the ban on the export of onions, its wholesale price dropped by 50% — from Rs1,000-1,200 per quintal to Rs500 per quintal.

Shocked by the decision and subsequent fall in price, farmers refused to sell their crop until the export ban is revoked. They are being supported by the APMCs across Nashik district, as well as by traders, vendors and labourers.

The onions that are currently being sold in the market are those stored in godowns.

The government had encouraged farmers to store onions and even given them subsidies to build godowns. Now, that farmers are storing their produce, the prices have fallen due to export ban leaving them in the lurch.

An all-party delegation from Nashik has met the ministers concerned in Delhi to discuss the issue.

Efforts by the state agriculture minister and chief minister to resolve the situation, too, are yet to bear fruits.

With the imbroglio still continuing, eight to nine lakh tonnes of the perishable crop are lying in godowns leaving farmers anxious.

“The government is in the shock of state. It has been recently been mired into several scams which have tarnished its image. That’s why the government imposed a ban on the export of onion before its cost reaches the peak,” said Nanasaheb Patil, a farmer from Lasalgaon, Asia’s largest onion auction market. “Farmers are becoming the victims of wrong government policies.”

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