Pune: Traders Demand Rs 25 Per Kg For Onion From Farmer Organisations, Threaten To Go On Strike From August 16

Pune, 5th August 2022: While the production cost of onion is Rs 20 to 22 per kg, the actual average price of onion is Rs 8 to 10. Due to this, the farmers of the Maharashtra state are suffering a huge loss.

The Maharashtra State Onion Growers Farmers Association has warned that the auction of onions should be increased from at least Rs 25 in all the market committees of the state till August 15, otherwise the onion farmers of the state will stage an indefinite stoppage of onion sale from August 16.

In this regard, Bharat Dighole said, “Onion gets a good price for 12-15 days of the year. But on other days of the year, onion is less than Rs ten. Export of onion is banned when a good price is obtained. Onion is imported and their traders are raided and a stock limit is imposed on onions.”

“The government is working to bring down the price of the onion by making various efforts. However, the average cost of producing onion is Rs 20 to 22 and is sold at an average price of Rs 8 to 10,” he added further.

Reportedly, the price of onion should be at least equal to the cost of production, in the next few days onion should be sold in all the market committees of the state from Rs 25 per kg. Otherwise, the farmers have decided to stop selling onions in the state from August 16. Especially this year, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) has purchased 2.5 lakh tonnes of onion.

“In Maharashtra, which is the largest producer of onion in the country, if the sale of onion is stopped 100 per cent, there will be a shortage of onion in the country and pressure will be created on the government. The onion should fetch a price higher than the cost of production. In order to get an average price of Rs 25, there will be a movement to stop the sale of onions,” said Bharat Dighole, President of Maharashtra State Onion Growers Farmers Association.