Maharashtra government in action mode after PMO acts on farmer’s complaint

A day after the Centre sought a detailed report on Maharashtra onion farmer sending his paltry earnings of Rs 1,064 from selling 750 kg of his produce to the Prime Minister Relief fund, the Maharashtra government has gone in a course-correction mode. The government has decided to take slew of measures to pacify the angry onion growing farmers and boost the plummeted onion market by offering transport subsidy.

Maharashtra Minister for state (Marketing & Federation) Sadhabhau Khot called an urgent meeting of the concerned department secretaries and other stake holders on Wednesday. In the meeting,  they decided to ask the Union government to increase the export  subsidy from 5 per cent to 10 per cent on onion exports.

“No charges should be imposed on exporting onions. It has also decided to extend the subsidy for transporting the onion to various parts of India where there is higher demand for onion in order to fetch fair rates for the farmers. This transport subsidy will be Rs 30,000 or 50 per cent against total cost of the transport, whichever is lower 750 km to 1000 km of distance that the farmer covers,” said Khot. 

He further said that currently, the old onion  in Nasik market has been sold at Rs 300 to Rs 400 per quintal while fresh arrival are sold at Rs 1,000 per quintal. “We have a huge unsold old stock of 30 lakh tonne, which we are selling in markets with higher demand. The demands centers are mostly in Bengaluru, Belgaon, and Indore,” he added. 

Nanasaheb Patil, chairman of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC ) Lasalgaon, Nasik welcomed the Maharashtra government decision but is sceptical about it’s success.

“The new arrival is in a large number in market so traders or exporters are preferring the fresh arrival. Now,  who will take care of the old stock?  The relief provided is misplace and hence the farmer’s anger will barely recede any time soon due to government’s wrong policies and misplaced priorities,” added Patil.

A HELPIND HAND

“No charges should be imposed on exporting onions. The transport subsidy will be Rs 30,000 or 50 per cent against total cost of the transport,” Minister for State (MosS) Sadhabhau Khot said.