Maharashtra Onion Farmers Demand Higher Prices

Farmers in India — Maharashtra have welcomed the central government of India's decision to relax onion procurement norms, expanding the acceptable size range and relaxing quality specifications. However, they claim that the procurement rate of around Rs 1,580 per quintal offered by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India is too low to cover cultivation costs, which average around Rs 1,800 per quintal. Farmer leaders, including Jaydeep Bhadane and Bharat Dighole of the India — Maharashtra State Onion Growers Association, are demanding a minimum support price of Rs 3,000 per quintal. They also seek greater transparency in the procurement process, urging National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India to publish daily lists of farmers and conduct procurement through India — Agricultural produce market committee. Additionally, the association has called for a subsidy of Rs 1,500 per quintal for farmers who have sold onions at low prices in recent months. The India — Maharashtra government has waived India — Agricultural produce market committee fees on onion procurement transactions by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India, but farmers believe this benefit will primarily accrue to the agencies unless procurement prices are raised.