Announcing the Rs 300/quintal subsidy, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that it would give a big relief to the affected farmers. Farmers are demanding Rs 600/quintal compensation.
Maharashtra Onion Farmers Get Rs 300/Quintal Subsidy: The Maharashtra government on Monday announced a Rs 300/quintal subsidy for the onion farmers who have threatened to go on a ‘long march’ for the third time. Announcing the Rs 300/quintal subsidy, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said that it would give a big relief to the affected farmers.
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“The red onion of the Kharif season has arrived in the market on a large scale, there is an increase in onion production in other states in the country. Owing to this the supply has exceeded the demand, leading to a fall in the prices,” Shinde informed the Maharashtra Assembly.
Maharashtra Farmers Agitated Over Absurd Return On Their Onions
The state is witnessing a massive upheaval as many farmers are angry over the absurd price of Rs 2/quintal in the wholesale markets, far below their production costs. Farmers are demanding Rs 600/quintal compensation. In many places the farmers have thrown the onions on the highways where they got crushed by speeding vehicles, let loose cattle in many onion farms and made a bonfire of the teary vegetable.
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Opposition Supports Farmers’ Rs 600/Quintal Demand, Proposes Rs 2,000/Quintal MSP From Next Season
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has supported the demand of the farmers seeking Rs 600/quintal and has also sought an MSP of Rs 2,000/quintal from the next season. However, the Shinde government has ruled out MSP as onion is a perishable crop. The MVA leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal have demanded that the subsidy should be hiked to at least Rs 500/quintal.
