Maharashtra farmers seek better pricing for produce

Their challenges may swing sentiments but do not guarantee electoral success

- AJINKYA KAWALE

A group of onion traders gathered at the Pimpalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), near Nashik, to inspect one of the season's final harvests of red onions as they look to place their bids.

They were surrounded by farmers, who brought their produce here from different parts of the district.

Farmers have reasons to be optimistic.

Sagar Borse, a 21-year-old resident of Chandori, arrived at the mandi during the early hours of the day and was beaming with joy.

The young farmer anticipates a better price for his produce than in the previous year on account of a limited supply of the bulbs, the lifting of the ban on exporting onions in May, and finally the much-awaited election season in the state.

Within no time, Borse receives a pink receipt from a trader who purchased his 20-quintal harvest at ₹3,800 per quintal.

He exhales a sigh of relief since this belt of onion producers have borne the brunt of fluctuating policies, including an export ban leading to a drop in prices of the kitchen staple.

"Our only expectation from the government is that the price of onions should be maintained at ₹4,000-5,000 per quintal as it was before the export ban," he added.