Mumbai, April 1 The Maharashtra State Onion Growers' Association has urged the government to immediately implement the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) to curb the sharp fall in onion prices, which the association claims has pushed farmers into a severe financial crisis.
According to the association president, Bharat Dighole, onion prices have declined by more than 50%, clearly indicating distress sale conditions and fulfilling the criteria for MIS implementation.
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.
The Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), a component of PM-AASHA, aims to provide remunerative prices to farmers for the procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities, which are perishable and are not covered under the Price Support Scheme.
In a letter sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers 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).
He stated that if the scheme is implemented, the government's entry as a buyer in the market would help stabilize prices, curb panic selling, and prevent traders from suppressing rates.
Farmers are currently receiving only Rs 300 to Rs 800 per quintal for onions, which is less than half of the estimated production cost of Rs 1,500 to Rs 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 that the scheme is executed at the taluka level rather than being restricted to districts. He also called for setting up government procurement centers 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.