Onion prices have begun falling in Nashik, due to oversupply of a bumper crop. With prices hovering around Rs 2,800 per quintal, farmers have become restless and are likely to demand concessions from the Central and State governments.
This newspaper had earlier reported that onion prices are likely to fall drastically during the ensuing Diwali season due to heavy arrivals of a bumper crop.
Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) chairman Nanasaheb Patil has written to the Union agriculture minister to reduce the Minimum Export Price (MEP) on onions. The present MEP is $700. Copies have also been sent to the PM, CM and other officials.
The demand for onions is already low during Diwali and their sowing was delayed due to the late rains. When good rainfall was received during the Ganeshotsav festival, nearly all farmers sowed onion. In other times, the sowing period is gradual over three months and the harvest is also gradual, which avoids a glut.
Now most onion farmers will bring their crop to the market from November 15 onwards and the prices are sure to drop drastically. This red onion variety cannot be stored and the only way to avoid a glut is to export it. Hence the MEP should be lowered, demands Patil’s letter.
However, Sandubhai Shaikh, leader of Shetkari Sanghatna, said lack of water is likely to affect the onion crop. “The onion crop required watering once a week and more if hot weather prevails. There’s no water so how will we keep the crop alive ” he questioned.
Onion farmer Dinkar Aher also said that lack of water would not give a good output. “As the ministers and bureaucracy do not understand farmers’ woes, I suggest that they sow, harvest and market onions. We will work in their fields. Then they will understand the tribulations faced by farmers,” he said sarcastically.
