Onion agitation, low trading continues

Onion agitations by farmers continued in Nashik district against the merchants’ demand to bring the tuber crop in sacks while most markets announced that only 7 to 10 percent of onion was brought for sale on Wednesday.

Hundreds of farmers led by leaders of all parties staged an hour-long road blockade in Kalwan town square, effectively blocking all roads. Leaders of Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Shetkari Sanghatna, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS) came together to discuss the future of onion trading.

In Yeola, angry farmers stopped the onion auctions for a while but resumed trading after discussions. Yeola APMC chairman Ushatai Shinde said that packing the onion was not viable for farmers. “Neither do the farmers have the expertise to weigh and pack the onions and stitch the sacks. We have discussed the issue with the traders and hope an amicable decision will be taken,” she said.

Lasalgaon APMC director Rajendra Dokhale said that the market was open but only about 3000 quintals which is about 7 to 8 per cent of the general arrivals. “The government is waiting for the special committee meeting on August 6 to decide the onion trade,” he said.

Shiv Sangram spokesman Udaykumar Aher said that the government decision to open up the market was good but there should be proper implementation. “If the APMCs can’t solve the issue the bodies should be dissolved,” he said.