Pune: The Union Ministry of Consumer Welfare and Civil Supplies has finally fixed a single onion procurement rate for a week in one state, as farmers and farmers’ organizations took an aggressive stand against the day-to-day and district-wise variation of onion procurement rates. In the current week, purchases from NAFED and NCCF will be made in Maharashtra at the rate of Rs 2,940 per quintal.
The Union Ministry of Consumer Welfare and Civil Supplies has started procurement of onion through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India (NCCF) under the Price Stabilization Fund Scheme since one month. Under this scheme, the aim is to purchase around five lakh tonnes of onion across the country. The Union Ministry of Consumer Welfare and Civil Supplies used to fix daily district-wise rates to NAFED and NCCF. The purchase price of a single onion varied from district to district. Moreover, there was a huge difference in the price. Farmers and farmers’ organizations raised their voice against this administration. Loksatta published a detailed report in its Tuesday (June 25) issue.
After the central government’s onion procurement policy started being criticized from all quarters, now the central government has fixed a uniform rate for one state for one week from Tuesday (June 25). Accordingly, the rate has been announced in Maharashtra 2,940, Madhya Pradesh 2,545, Rajasthan 2,430, Gujarat 2,700 and Uttar Pradesh 2,280 per quintal.
Govt onion procurement farce
Good quality onions fetch Rs 30-34 per kg in major market committees in the onion growing belt of the state. Whereas the government procurement rate is Rs.29.40. Also, money is not received from NAFED, NCCF on time. Therefore, NAFED and NCCF have not been able to purchase onion as expected so far. Government purchases are made from Farmer Producer Companies, Onion Producers Societies. Not directly from farmers or open markets. As a result common farmers do not benefit from government procurement. Kuber Jadhav, state coordinator of Swabhimani Shetkar Sangathan has expressed the opinion that NAFED and NCCF should buy onion through bidding from market committees, without which common farmers will not benefit.
Onion procurement is going on with the connivance of some farmers, agriculturist companies and NAFED, NCCF officials. This purchase does not benefit the common farmers. Who will give onions to NAFED, NCCF at Rs 29.40 per kg when good quality onion fetches Rs 30-34 per kg in the open market. NAFED, NCCF should purchase onion from open market. Why farmers are sacrificed every time to control inflation. Why other measures are not taken to control inflation. Why is the price of other goods and services not controlled in the market?- Bharat Dighole, President, Onion Growers Association
