Maharashtra Onion Growers Urge Govt Intervention As Prices Plunge

Maharashtra State Onion Growers' Association has urged the government to immediately implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to arrest the sharp fall in onion prices, which it claimed has pushed farmers into a severe financial crisis.

Onion prices have declined by more than 50%, clearly indicating distress sale conditions and fulfilling the criteria for MIS implementation, the association president, Bharat Dighole, said.

He also warned of state-wide protests if immediate steps are not taken, urging the government to act swiftly to provide relief to onion farmers.

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), a component under PM-AASHA, is aimed at providing remunerative prices to farmers for the procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities, which are perishable in nature and are not covered under the Price Support Scheme.

In a representation sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Dighole highlighted that onion growers across Maharashtra were suffering heavy losses due to a steep decline in prices at Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).

If the scheme is implemented, the government's entry as a buyer in the market would help stabilise prices, curb panic selling and prevent traders from suppressing rates, he said.

Farmers were currently receiving only ₹300 to ₹800 per quintal for onions, less than half of the production cost estimated at ₹1,500 to ₹1,800 per quintal. The prevailing prices are insufficient even to cover harvesting and transportation costs, forcing farmers into distress sales, he claimed.

In several instances, farmers are compelled to dump onions on roads due to the unviable market rates, Dighole pointed out.

He demanded that the state government immediately send a proposal to the Centre for the implementation of the MIS and ensure the scheme is executed at the taluka level rather than being restricted to districts. He also called for setting up government procurement centres in every onion-producing taluka and fixing a minimum procurement price based on production cost.

Dighole also stressed the need for effective implementation of the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme to ensure direct financial support to farmers.