Onion glut, farmers demand policy for price

Rajkot: Onion producers in Mahuva of

Bhavnagar

, one of the largest producers of this vegetable, have shot a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to frame a dedicated policy for the bulb, following a glut in production.The letter was sent by

Mahuva Marketing Yard

, the largest platform for white onion and the second largest for red onion auction in India.Bhavnagar and Amreli districts are the largest producers of white onion and red onion and there has been a significant crop of the latter in this region. However, the prices of onion fluctuates often, ranging from Rs five to Rs 50 per kg in the wholesale market.Ghanshyam Patel, chairman of

APMC

Mahuva in his letter to the PM stated: “Over the last two decades there has been an unusual increase and decrease in onion prices. On an average, every three years, the price of onion either increases greatly or falls as if there is no bottom. In order to limit price fluctuations, it’s necessary to formulate a defined onion policy which maintains fair prices on the basis of supply and demand for both farmers and consumers.”Talking to TOI, Patel said, “When prices fall, farmers suffer huge losses, so the policy should be framed in a way that they get reasonable prices and are not discouraged from cultivation. Consumers aren't required to pay high prices during shortages.”The producers have suggested forming an expert committee comprising government officials, farmers and leaders of onion-growing states to form the policy related to cultivation like quality seeds, export policy, storage, processing etc. The APMC suggested the government ensure farmers get quality seeds and there should be a ban on export of seeds to maintain purity.The committee suggested that the exports should be regularized, which can give maximum benefits to the farmers, but ensuring that the consumers don’t need to pay high prices due to export. They have also asked for subsidies in the railway for transportation of onions and farmers get better storage facilities of onions.
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