Onion goes for distress sale in Subarnapur

Lack of adequate shortage and marketing facilities is forcing onion farmers of Subarnapur and Boudh districts to resort to distress sale.

While harvesting is on in full swing in different Panchayats like Lachhipur, Chakormal and Khaliapali of Sonepur block and several areas in Ullunda, Birmaharajpur, Dunguripali and Tarbha blocks under Subarnapur district, besides in Kantamaal and Harbhanga areas under Boudh district, both the farmers and local consumers are deprived of the benefits despite a bumper harvest this year. It is attributed to inadequate shortage facilities and market linkage.

The farmers are forced to sell onions to traders at a throwaway price. Kashinath Kudei, an onion grower from Sibtula village under Tarbha block, said, “As there are no storage facilities, we are disposing of the stock to the traders at Rs 5 to 6 per kg.”

On the other hand, the traders sell onion at Rs 10 to 15 per kg to the people in the local markets of Sonepur and Boudh town. Sources said the traders from outside, particularly from Chhatisgarh, purchase onion from the farmers at a cheaper rate. After storing the onions for about three to four months, they sell it at a higher price.

This apart, unavailability of proper market linkage has also limited the onion growing area in both the districts. During the Rabi season, over 2,000 hectares in Subarnapur and 2,700 hectares in Boudh district are taken up for onion cultivation.

Under the Horticulture Mission, the farmers are given 50 per cent subsidy to construct 20 tonne capacity onion storage house. However, the mission has found few takers due to faulty policy of the Government.

While each storage house costs Rs 1.75 lakh, the Horticulture Department provides subsidy to a beneficiary farmer after construction of the storage.

Bulu Guru, a farmer from Jhartarbha village, said they find it difficult to invest such a huge amount of money and hence, are reluctant to avail the benefits of the mission. Another farmer Tuna Bagh of Hardokhol village said as most of the onion growers are mostly small and marginal farmers, they can’t afford to construct the storage units on their own and then wait for the subsidy.

Meanwhile, the farmers have demanded easy access to storage and marketing facilities, besides bank finances.