Maharashtra sets up expert panel to study onion price crash, export policy impact

Maharashtra is the largest onion-producing state in India, and recurring price volatility has long been a source of distress for farmers, particularly in the Nashik belt. Representational pic

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday constituted an expert sub-committee to recommend immediate and long-term measures to address the ongoing decline in onion prices and strengthen the state's onion sector, news agency PTI reported.

The sub-committee has been formed under a secretary-level committee set up in April by the Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles Department to suggest measures for onion growers.

A government resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday said the panel will examine factors behind the fall in onion prices, assess the impact of the Centre's onion export policy over the past seven to eight years, and recommend measures to improve the crop's value chain.

The sub-committee comprises former vice-chancellor of Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli Dr Kisanrao Lawande, former director of marketing Sunil Pawar, Indo Vegetables Development Association President Sarang Nirmal, entrepreneur Narendra Pawar, and Maharashtra Director of Marketing Sharad Jare, who will serve as member secretary.

The panel has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive report covering six key areas, including integrating quality onion varieties developed by agricultural universities into the agricultural value chain, analysing the root causes of the price crash, and preparing a standard operating procedure for high-temperature storage along with cost implications.

It will also study onion by-products, examine the Centre's onion export policy over the past seven to eight years and its impact on market prices, and visit onion storage facilities developed by the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation at Rajgurunagar in Pune.

MVA staged protests last week over onion price crash

The sub-committee has been directed to submit its report along with recommendations to the state government within 15 days, the GR said.

Maharashtra is the largest onion-producing state in India, and recurring price volatility has long been a source of distress for farmers, particularly in the Nashik belt.

Last week, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged demonstrations and blocked the Pune-Nashik Highway, demanding a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 per quintal for onions.

The alliance also demanded subsidies for onions sold at lower rates and procurement of all farmers' produce through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to ensure fair returns.

State Congress President Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that onion growers were being forced to sell at throwaway prices, claiming rates had fallen below Rs 2 per kg, and said farmers were unable to recover production costs due to policy failures.

He added that although the government had announced onion procurement, the process had not yet effectively begun, and demanded that procurement be routed strictly through Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).

The protest saw participation from Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) state president Shashikant Shinde, legislators Rohit Pawar, Bapusaheb Pathare, Babaji Kale, and Member of Parliament (MP) Nilesh Lanke, along with party workers and farmers.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)