Very few onion farmers will get Rs 100 per quintal subsidy

Very few onion farmers were likely to get the Rs 100 per quintal subsidy for their crop which had been announced but not yet implemented by the state government, said market experts.

Following sharp fall in onion prices and protests by several organisations, the state government had announced it would give 50 per cent of the decided subsidy with the central government giving the remaining 50 per cent.

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) director Nanasaheb Patil said, “The central government is uninterested in the scheme and the state government will have to bear the cost. The tragic part is that, only those farmers who sold their produce between August 11 and August 31 will be eligible.”

“From July 5 to July 11, there was the adat (commission) issue. Then APMC remained closed, after which there was the issue of lose onions. Between August 11 and 31, most farmers stayed away from the markets, hoping for the market intervention scheme (MIS) which did not materialise,” said Mr Patil.

Chandwad APMC chairman Dr Atmaram Kumbharde said, “Only those farmers who sold through APMCs and not those who sold directly to traders, will be eligible for the subsidy. Meanwhile, when the state government opened up markets with its new policy two months ago, farmers were able to sell their produce anywhere while the traders could buy off the agricultural produce right from the farm. A large number of farmers sold off their onions at low prices. This means that the majority of farmers will be ineligible.”