Suresh Deshmukh, a commission agent operating out of the wholesale market of Dindori in Nashik district, pointed out that all states have reported good yields of the late kharif crop across the country. Given the constant slide in wholesale prices of onion across mandis in Maharashtra, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed) has decided to up its procurement activities in Nashik from Monday, according to a press statement.
Across the country, onion sellers have witnessed a sudden drop in wholesale prices because of increased arrivals. Traders say the price drop is expected to be more acute as the season progresses. Currently, the wholesale price of onion in major mandis of Nashik is around Rs 200-300/quintal.
Suresh Deshmukh, a commission agent operating out of the wholesale market of Dindori in Nashik district, pointed out that all states have reported good yields of the late kharif crop across the country. “Most states have seen an increased area of onion- in fact, we have more than the country can consume. Overseas demand has also stagnated,” he said.
Given this situation, most farmers have started complaining about the low price they are getting in the wholesale markets.
Tukaram Chavan, a farmer from the village of Borgaon in Barshi taluka of the Osmanabad district, recently sold 512 quintals of his produce in the Solapur wholesale market and received a cheque worth only Rs 2.
The transaction slip, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, showed he was paid at a rate of Rs 100/quintal and his total bill had come to Rs 512. But charges of weighing (tolai), labour (hamali) and advance payment of Rs 430 were deducted from his final bill, which saw him being issued a cheque of Rs 2.
Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar raised this issue Sunday and showed a video of Chavan sharing details of his predicament.
The demand for government procurement has grown louder, leading to Nafed’s intervention.
“Nafed has opened limited centres in the district, which will likely go up by Monday. The Centre’s move will provide stability to the onion market. Nafed has also planned to procure Rabi onions from April for buffer stocking. The major procurement takes place in the Nashik district. Farmers are requested to bring their good quality and dried stock to the procurement centres to avail of better rates at these centres. The payment will be made online,” the release read.