Nashik: For the past few days, the onion growers of the state are not ready to stop harassing the farmers. Despite the state government announcing a subsidy, one kg of onion is being sold in the mandis for 25 paise. After this, the farmers have become disappointed and desperate. Despite selling thousands of kilos of onions, the production cost of the farmers is not being recovered. Many farmers are facing the issue of giving money instead of taking it after selling onions.
The Shinde government had declared a grant of Rs 350 per quintal to onion in the financial budget session, but this grant is now proving to be harmful to the onion growers. Expecting grants, farmers are reaching the market to sell their onions. Onion is arriving in the mandis on a large scale, and information about its effect on the prices has come to the fore. On March 27, the state government announced an order of Rs 350 per quintal subsidy for onions, but this condition was given to give the benefit of onion subsidy to be sold till March 31, so the farmers reached the mandis for the sale of onions simultaneously. Have been This situation is said to be created due to an increase in arrivals. Information has come to light that onions are being sold for 25 paise per kg in Sinnar, Satana, Nandgaon, Umrane, and Devla, the major onion markets in the district.
Wrong announcement time
During the financial budget session, there was a vigorous discussion in the Legislature regarding the prices of onions by the opponents. Against this background, the state government appointed a committee. As per the recommendation of this committee, it was decided to give subsidies to onion-producing farmers. After this, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced a grant of Rs 300 per quintal onion in the assembly. It was later increased by Rs 50, but due to the wrong timing of implementing this decision, experts are saying that farmers will not benefit from it.
Needed more time
The government’s decision to grant was announced on 27 March. The onion sale time has been fixed till March 31. So the farmers got only four days to sell their onions. There was a crowd in the farmers’ market for the sale of onions. The arrival of onions increased. Prices declined. If its time had been reduced to 15 days, the farmers would not have been harmed.
