Pune farmer earns Rs 4 for 1.48 tonnes of onions, sends money to Agriculture minister as mark of protest

If vegetables are ever graded as per their supposed political sensitivity, onions will certainly be graded in the top bracket. Prices both in retail and wholesale markets are monitored closely by the state governments but the issues related to onion price can hardly be ignored. 

When a onion farmer from Pune received only four rupees for 1484 kg of onion, he decided to send it as money order to the Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. Along with the money, he has send his wife's bangles and wrote a letter describing the poor condition of onion farmers in the region. He added, situation will get worse if he doesn't look into the matter.

While talking to Zee, Sanjay Barhatte said, "I had sent 1458 kg of onion in the market. When the challan and four rupees came in my hand, I was confused whether I should laugh or cry."

Sanjay's 1458 kg of onions was worth Rs 2362.The cost of bringing the onion to the market came around Rs. 1280 rupees. After deducting all the expenses at the market while selling the onion, he was left with just Rs. 4.

Manisha Barhatte, wife of Sanjay says, "How to run house of four people in this money. From where we will give our children's school fees, electricity & water bill. The condition is getting worse day by day. The Union Agriculture Minister should give the answer. We are really helpless."

The farmers in this area are demanding help from MSP. 

Maharashtra onion farmers are unhappy with the State government’s announcement of ₹200 per quintal ex-great and have demanded the help of ₹500. Opposition parties have supported the farmers’ demand.

After a farmer from Nashik sent a money order for ₹1,064 to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw his attention to the crisis being faced by onion farmers, a delegation of farmers from the district had met Modi recently and demanded that the government must provide a grant of ₹500 to onion farmers to meet losses.