Politically hot Maharashtra forces the Centre to swing into damage control. With farmers in the largest producing onion State (42%) protesting the decision to impose a 40% duty on its export, Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal hastily announced last month that two cooperative bodies NAFED and NCCF will procure 2 lakh additional tonnes of onions at a ‘historic’ rate of Rs 2,410 per quintal (instead of Rs 1,470-1,713 per quintal), and if need be, buy even more.

This after Nashik Onion Traders’ Association had announced an indefinite shutdown of onions’ auction at all APMCs and many other farmers’ organisations had taken to the streets following the export duty announcement. Importantly, the Shinde-Fadnavis government sent an SOS to Centre saying annoying the farmers would prove detrimental.

With that front taken care of, Goyal also announced the cooperatives will sell onions at a subsidized rate of Rs 25 per kg—reaching out to another chunk of voters, the common man, hit by onion prices (up from Rs 30-35 per kg to Rs 45-60 per kg) after having gone through high tomato prices.

The move hopefully should silence the opposition which grabbed the opportunity to hit out saying ‘BJP has always overlooked farmers’ issues. For them, winning elections is the only criterion. The export duty decision has been taken ahead of Assembly elections in several States.”

KRC TIMES | Promotional