After the Centre announced to purchase two lakh metric tonnes of onions from farmers in Maharashtra at a price of INR 2,410 per quintal through NAFED, the opposition parties have criticised the move characterising it as election-focused and harmful to the cause of farmers.
Moreover, the Centre's plan to levy a 40% duty on onion exports was also met with displeasure by the former Union Agriculture Minister. However, the traders, on the other hand, have resolved to end their agitation against the imposition of a 40% export tariff.
On Wednesday, August 23, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar demanded that the Union Government should pay INR 4,000 per quintal. "To help farmers, the onions that NAFED purchases should cost INR 4,000 per quintal. The Centre's choice to pay INR 2,410 per quintal is unacceptable," argued Pawar.
Meanwhile, NCP leader Supriya Sule claimed that farmers are suffering as a result of rising input costs and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of being anti-farmer. She claimed that anti-farmer policies were continually being developed by the national government. Farmers will have to leave farming if they don't receive enough money for their goods because it won't be an affordable job for them any longer, according to Sule.
Sanjay Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticised the Maharashtra government for the skyrocketing price of onions and claimed that the administration had no right to continue being in power. In Maharashtra, onions are a basic meal for the underprivileged and farmers, and Raut emphasized that the government's failure to address the growing onion prices reflects poorly on its governance.
Besides, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar hailed the central government's actions to purchase an additional 2 lakh tonne (LMT) of onions from Maharashtra farmers.
"Pawar Saheb must applaud the government's initiatives. When comparable conditions were faced in the past, he was the agricultural minister at the time. Nobody should polarise the subject. We must support the farmers and make recommendations to the state administration for their wellbeing," said Shinde.
"In the Nashik area, onion purchases from NAFED have begun in Lasalgaon, Manmad, Alephata, and other locations. The Centre has been requested to reduce the export duty, which has indicated its willingness to buy 2 LMT of onions. The Centre has agreed to raise the rate at our request, and it will likewise do so if it becomes necessary to buy more than 2 LMT. Additionally, NAFED has been asked to expand and improve the storage system by the state government," Shinde continued.
Farmers have been opposing the Union government's intention to levy a 40% export duty on onions, a measure intended to address the unstable price of the kitchen staple.
Raju Shetti, President of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, said, "Purchase of two lakh metric tonne of onions is not going to fix the problem. Why do onions have a 40% export tariff, one would wonder? We urge that the government eliminate the 40% export tax on onions."
Slamming the Centre for this decision he said, "By authorising the entry of tomatoes from Nepal last month, the Centre made a stupid choice. The tomato market crashed as a result, and growers were unable to recoup their initial investment. The same will be repeated with Onions now. The increase in export taxes will cause an excess supply of onions, which will result in a dramatic drop in price. Farmers will thus be responsible for the financial loss."
All onion auctions at Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) in Maharashtra's Nashik district will resume from August 24, a traders' spokesperson. The decision was made today during a meeting of traders, exporters, and farmers with Union Minister Dr. Bharati Pawar.
"We will ask the Union government to reconsider and make a wise judgment on the 40% export duty," the Union Minister stated.
Share
Tweet
