Maharashtra onion growers welcome norm changes but seek Rs 3,000 per quintal

Onion growers in Maharashtra have welcomed the Centres decision to relax procurement norms for onions but farmer leaders say the move alone will not address the financial distress facing cultivators They have demanded a minimum procurement price of Rs 3000 per quintal arguing that current rates offered by government agencies are insufficient to cover production costsThe demand comes despite recent changes made by the Centre to broaden the eligibility criteria for onion procurement by government agenciesCentre Relaxes Quality and Size SpecificationsThe Union government has eased several procurement norms to enable more farmers to sell onions under the procurement programmeUnder the revised guidelines the acceptable size range for onions has been expanded from 4565 mm to 3570 mm The government has also relaxed standards relating to blemishes colour variation skin defects and minor sun damageThe move is expected to increase the quantity of onions eligible for procurement by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd NAFED and the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India NCCFFarmer leaders acknowledged that the relaxation would help reduce rejection rates during procurement but stressed that low prices remain the primary concernFarmers Say Procurement Rates Remain UnviableAccording to representatives of the Maharashtra State Onion Growers Association the procurement price offered by NAFED and NCCF is around Rs 1580 per quintal which they claim is below the cost of cultivationNashik district president Jaydeep Bhadane said farmers are continuing to incur losses despite the revised norms He argued that the key issue is not procurement eligibility but ensuring remunerative prices for growersUnder the earlier grading system a portion of farmers produce was often rejected and sold in the open market at lower rates While the revised norms may improve acceptance levels Bhadane said the overall benefit would depend on how effectively the changes are implemented at procurement centresGrowers Seek Rs 3000 Per Quintal Support PriceFarmer organisations have demanded that the government fix a minimum procurement price of Rs 3000 per quintalAssociation president Bharat Dighole claimed that the average cost of onion production is approximately Rs 1800 per quintal forcing many farmers to sell their produce below costAccording to the association prolonged low prices over the past several months have caused significant financial losses for onion growers across Maharashtra particularly in Nashik district one of Indias largest onionproducing regionsDemand for Transparency in Procurement ProcessThe farmers body has also called for greater transparency in government procurement operationsAmong its key demands is the publication of daily lists of farmers whose onions are procured by NAFED and NCCF Farmer leaders argue that such measures would improve accountability and ensure that procurement benefits reach genuine cultivatorsThe association has further urged authorities to conduct procurement through Agricultural Produce Market Committees APMCs claiming that this would help minimise irregularities and provide competitive pricingCall for Compensation for Past LossesIn addition to higher procurement prices the organisation has sought compensation for farmers who sold onions at depressed rates over the past four to five monthsIt has demanded a subsidy of Rs 1500 per quintal for growers who suffered losses during the period of low market pricesFarmer leaders contend that merely relaxing procurement norms will not resolve the economic challenges confronting onion producers unless prices are raised and past losses are addressedFee Waiver Welcomed but Concerns PersistThe Maharashtra government recently waived APMC fees on onion procurement carried out by NAFED and NCCF to reduce transaction costs and facilitate faster procurementHowever farmer organisations argue that the benefits of the waiver will largely accrue to procurement agencies unless the purchase price paid to farmers is increasedLasalgaon Market Remains Key IndicatorThe debate over onion prices assumes significance as the Lasalgaon APMC continues to serve as one of the countrys largest wholesale onion markets and a key benchmark for onion tradeFarmer groups maintain that sustainable relief for growers will require a combination of remunerative procurement prices transparent purchasing mechanisms and compensation for losses incurred during the prolonged period of low market ratesWith inputs from PTI