Fadnavis: The Center would purchase 2 lakh metric tons of onions at Rs 2,410 per quintal
Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, said on Tuesday that the federal government has chosen to buy two lakh metric tonnes of onions at a price of Rs 2,410 per quintal, with the aim that this would help the state’s producers of the important food staple.
He said that the state of Maharashtra would establish specific procurement centers in Nashik and Ahmednagar.
The statement comes in the midst of farmer and trader protests over the Centre’s intention to levy a 40% export tariff on onions in an effort to rein in price growth and boost supply on the local market.
On August 19, the Finance Ministry issued a statement imposing a 40% export tariff on onions until December 31, 2023.
I met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal over the onion problem, according to Fadnavis, who is now visiting Japan. At a cost of Rs 2,410 a quintal, the Union government will purchase two lakh metric tonnes of onions.
“For the same, specific procurement centers would be established in the districts of Nashik and Ahmednagar. It will provide some respite to the state’s onion farmers, the deputy CM said.
In all of Nashik’s Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs), including Lasalgaon, the country’s biggest wholesale onion market, dealers resolved on Monday to permanently halt onion auctions.
On Monday, a number of farmers and businesspeople protested in Nashik district in an effort to get the export tariff reduced.
