India: Drop in onion prices leads to strike
Growers are on strike due to the drastic fall in onion prices on Thursday at the Agriculture Produce…Growers are on strike due to the drastic fall in onion prices on Thursday at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee.The prices of onions have fallen to a mere Rs. 300 per quintal with a maximum of Rs 1,500 per quintal, however, the growers wanted the prices to be higher.
The farmers insist that merchants are bringing down the prices as usually onions get around Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kilo and the wholesale price was Rs 3,000 until Thursday.
The merchants have argued that the reason for the drop in onion prices is because of fresh produce entering the market and fluctuating demand.
The merchants refused to change the price, despite its drastic drop, which led to the farmers protesting and additionally they blocked the main road. Finally, Suresh Dasanavar, APMC chairman, with others, decided it would be fair to pay the growers an additional Rs 100 to Rs 300 depending on the type of onion they were growing and selling.