With wholesale prices on a constant slide and the export ban, onion growers in Nashik indicated they will take steps to ensure a political price is paid for their losses. Bharat Dighole, president of the onion growers association, indicated they will open their cards in the next two days.
Last week, the central government decided to continue the ban imposed last year. The ban was supposed to extend till March 31,2024 but was extended till further notice. In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the ban was extended as India reported lower onion than last year. Last year, India reported 12.26 lakh hectare of rabi onion production, while this year 9.76 lakh hectare of onion was sowed.
While retail prices of onion ranged between Rs 25-30/kg across the country, its wholesale market rates continued to slide unabated.
On Monday, the average realisation of farmers at Lasalgaon’s wholesale market in Nashik was Rs 1,360/quintal. Prices, famers said, dropped from last week when the average traded price was around Rs 1,440-1,500/quintal. Dighole blamed this dip on the export ban. “Markets move on sentiments – the continuous ban has resulted in the drop,” he said.
At present, the central government has allowed 64,400 tonnes of onion to be exported only via the National Cooperative Exports Limited. Dighole and other farmers said will not have any effect on farmers’ gains.
“Since the last one year onion growers have faced losses first due to vagaries of nature and then due to low prices. Just when the prices had turned in our favour the government has turned the tables on us,” he said.
Dighole’s organisation, which has remained apolitical for the last several years, has decided to take a political stance. “The decision to ban exports will surely hurt political parties behind this. Regarding our stand, it will be revealed in the next two days,” he said.
