National Highway traffic hits onion hurdle

Onion farmers, traders and workers staged a raasta roko at Pimpalgaon Baswant and Lasalgaon in Nashik district on Monday to protest against the ban on export of the commodity imposed by the Central government since September 9.

Wholesale onion markets run by Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in Nashik have been shut since Friday afternoon.

The national highway from Mumbai to Agra was blocked at Pimpalgaon Baswant in Nashik district, after farmers emptied a large trolley of onions onto the road. National Congress Party (NCP) MP Sameer Bhujbal, who also participated in the raasta roko, strongly condemned the government’s decision and demanded that the ban be revoked. “The announcement of the ban has brought down the price of onions paid to the farmers by 50%. This is very unfair,” he said.

Meanwhile, traders like Kunal Pagariya of Sushant Traders in Pimpalgaon Baswant are extending their full support to the farmers. “The loss is not so much for traders as it is for farmers. If the farmers don’t get the appropriate price for their crop, they will be ruined. Our business is dependent on them. Not a single onion truck will go out until the ban is revoked,” stated Pagariya.

The workers or ‘mathadi kamgars’ who help in the weighing, loading and unloading of onions also came out to support the farmers. “We work on daily wages. If no onions are brought to the market, we are left without work and income,” said Narayan Pote, leader of the Mathadi Kamgar at Pimpalgaon Baswant market yard.  

In Lasalgaon, Asia’s largest onion auction market, farmers, supported by traders, workers and APMCs, marched to the main square in Lasalgaon and staged a raasta roko. Many wore onion garlands and in strong words questioned the government’s sudden decision. “This is a very ironic situation. On one hand, the government gives us a 40% subsidy  to build godowns to store onions and on the other, imposes a ban on exports. What sense does this make?” asked Lalit Darekar, an onion farmer from Lasalgaon.

“Farmers spent an average of about Rs70-80,000 per acre as production cost and in return, will receive Rs50,000 per acre. What equation is this? Why would a farmer want to cultivate onions in such a situation? It should not come as a surprise if the farmers divert to other crops which will create an onion shortage in the country,” warned Darekar.

Members of the Shetkari Sanghatana have met with farmers on their farms, urging them not to sell their produce until onions reach a sky-high price of Rs100 per kg in Delhi.