Dhananjay Munde says government apathetic to onion farmers’ plight

Amid reports of the state’s onion farmers selling their stocks at throwaway prices due to plunging rates, NCP’s Dhananjay Munde, who is the Leader of Opposition, has accused the government of being apathetic to the farmers’ plight.

Despite repeated pleas, the state has sat over the proposal related to the implementation of Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to provide succour to beleaguered farmers, Mr Munde said. MIS is a price support mechanism implemented on the request of states for procurement of perishable and horticultural commodities in the event of a fall in market prices.

“In the meeting held with Union Agriculture Minister in New Delhi on August 10, a decision was taken that if farmers do not get a fair price or if rates fell, the Centre and state will procure onion and share its financial burden on a 50-50 basis,” said Mr Munde. “Why is the government silent when onion producing farmers are getting a rate of mere five paise per kg ” he said in a letter to the CM.