Chairing a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan, the Chief Minister said that while price volatility is a persistent annual concern, urgent support must be extended to onion farmers facing current distress
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Amid recurring fluctuations in onion prices across Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced the formation of a high-level committee to recommend both immediate relief measures and long-term solutions to address the issue permanently.
Chairing a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan, the Chief Minister said that while price volatility is a persistent annual concern, urgent support must be extended to onion farmers facing current distress. The committee - comprising Additional Chief Secretaries from the Agriculture and Finance Departments, along with the Secretary of the Marketing Department - has been tasked with suggesting immediate interventions to stabilise farmer incomes.
Long-Term Strategy to Break Cycle of Losses
Fadnavis emphasised that beyond short-term relief, structural reforms are essential to prevent the recurrence of such crises. He directed officials to design and implement long-term measures aimed at ensuring sustainable and profitable onion production.
The committee has been instructed to conduct a comprehensive review and submit immediate recommendations, while also finalising long-term solutions within the next two to three months.
Focus on Exports and Market Expansion
Highlighting the need to stabilise prices through better market linkages, the Chief Minister said he would convene a meeting with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to address export-related challenges and curb malpractices in onion trade.
He noted that with onion production witnessing a significant rise, generating adequate market demand - both domestic and international - has become critical to prevent price crashes.
Clampdown on Middlemen Practices
The government has taken serious note of reports indicating that traders are purchasing onions from farmers at low prices and reselling them to agencies such as NAFED at higher rates. Fadnavis said such practices are detrimental to farmers’ interests and must be curbed permanently through stricter oversight and policy intervention.
Crop Diversification to Be Explored
As part of a broader reform strategy, the committee will also examine crop diversification in key onion-producing districts including Nashik, Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur. The Chief Minister suggested that pilot initiatives be launched in the upcoming Kharif season.
He also underlined the importance of diversification within onion cultivation itself, including the adoption of suitable varieties and evaluation of yield patterns.
Encouraging Shift to High-Return Crops
Fadnavis stressed the need to guide farmers towards crops offering better returns. He said that a gradual transition over the next two to three years could help ensure that agricultural production becomes more profitable and less vulnerable to market fluctuations.
He pointed out that the current cycle - marked by surplus production, supply chain disruptions, and government intervention - often results in financial losses for farmers. Breaking this cycle will require a combination of policy reforms, market expansion, and crop planning.
Ministers, MLAs and Experts Attend Meeting
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Water Resources Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Girish Mahajan, Marketing Minister Jaykumar Rawal, Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal, and School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse.
Several legislators, including Sadabhau Khot, Dilip Bankar, Rahul Aher, Vikram Pachpute, Kishor Patil, Sharad Sonawane, Ram Bhadane, Kashinath Date, Nitin Pawar, and Ashutosh Kale, were also present. Chairman of the Agricultural Price Commission Pasha Patel, senior bureaucrats, and onion exporters participated in the discussions.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
