To protest the imposition of a 40 percent export tariff by the Centre, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) of Lasalgaon in Nashik, the largest onion market in Asia, has halted all trading of the bulb indefinitely.
Other APMCs in the Nashik district have joined the Lasalgaon market in refusing to sell onions.
All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a group of farmers affiliated with the Communist Party of India, has urged all APMCs in Maharashtra to put a stop to the onion trade. Farmers would demonstrate against the government’s decision to charge an export duty on onions not just in Nashik but throughout Maharashtra, according to AIKS general secretary Ajit Nawale.
“Policies hostile to farmers have been consistently embraced by the national government. The government has harmed the interests of farmers by first easing the entry of tomatoes and dairy goods and now by imposing export duties on onions. Farmers from all around Maharashtra would boycott the sale of opinions at the APMCs in protest. Their agitation would be supported by Kisan Sabha, said Nawale.
On August 19, amid an increase in onion prices across the nation, a decision to implement the export tariff was made. According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, the price of onion at its highest level exceeded Rs 67 per kilogram. The average price per kilogram in India is still Rs. 31, which is more expensive than the median prices of Rs. 27.34 from one month ago and Rs. 24 from one year ago.
The head of the onion-potato market at the Vashi APMC in adjoining Navi Mumbai, Sanjay Pingle, requested the Centre to reconsider its decision to impose a 40% levy on the export of onions.
Speaking to PTI, Pingle asserted that the state’s onion producers will suffer as a result of the government’s decision.
“Farmers have been putting a lot of pressure on us to close the market and cease selling onions. We have been instructed not to sell the onions by at least 10–15 associations. Today is the last day of the onion auction in the whole Nashik district. Local markets will close over the next several days as well. He stated that the APMC has also decided to assist the farmers.
Pingle encouraged the government to distribute onions through the PDS, much like it does with rice and wheat.
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“Sell it through PDS at Rs 2 to Rs 10 (per kg) if you want the poor people to be able to purchase onion at a lower cost,” he said.
Additionally, he asserted that the Centre’s decision would result in a sharp decline in onion exports, which would increase revenue for growers in Pakistan, Iran, and Egypt.
Pingle advised Nitin Gadkari, a minister for the Union, to raise this matter with the Centre.
He stated that a decision would be made in the upcoming days as “we want to be with the farmers” on this matter.
