Mkt bandh hits onion supply

Traders believe this can keep the prices up for some time

The wholesale onion markets all over Nashik district remained closed on Thursday after the traders announced closure of the markets for two days in protest against a temporary ban on the export of onions.

Though markets opened late on Wednesday, the onion prices dropped by Rs500 to Rs200 per quintal. With the rates falling on Wednesday, the farmers in the region suffered a loss of about Rs10 lakh, reports stated.

“No transaction took place at the markets as the two-day closure has been announced. The farmers also did not turn up with their supplies. Reports on the happenings have been sent to higher authorities,” stated BY Holkar, secretary market committee, Lasalgaon.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister for Water Resource Ajit Pawar, who was on a tour to the district, said he discussed the onion market issue with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and it seemed that the traders were responsible for the present crisis, so action will be taken against them.

The two-day bandh on Thursday and Friday followed by closure of the market for two days on the weekend is a strategic move by the traders, who purchased onion at high rates in the last couple of days and sent it to the markets all over the country.

These supplies are in transit. The traders fear that any further drop in the prices will cause them losses. With the closure of the markets, the supplies in the domestic markets can be restricted by the traders.

Experts believe on Monday when the markets open, the supplies will be more, making the prices to drop and  farmers are likely to suffer a loss.