As if the drought in the central India was not enough to trouble the lives of farmers. Now the after effect of the drought is wreaking havoc the lives of farmers in Marathwada district of Maharashtra.
The mismatch between the demand and supply of onions has made farmers like Ravindra Madhikar have suicidal thoughts. Madhikar from Gangapur taluka of Aurangabad district had to sell 450kgs of Onions for a meager Rs.175. “I used to wonder why farmers take the drastic decision of ending their lives. But after Wednesday's deal, I am also feeling suicidal,” said the onion producer in his early thirties.
One of the biggest wholesale markets for onions in Maharashtra is in Lasur. The place saw onions being sold for as cheap as 50paisa per kilogram of onion. The better quality ones are going for Rs.500 to Rs.600 per 100 kilograms.
Lasalgaon, the largest wholesale onion market in India witnessed onions go as cheap as Rs.720 per 100 kilograms.
"The government should buy from farmers through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Fedration of India Limited," said farmers' leader Jayaji Suryawanshi. The farmers were forced to switch to grow onions instead of sugarcanes due to the drought. Sugarcane takes more water to grow.
BJP regional spokesperson Shirish Boralkar said the Centre had announced that it would purchase 15,000 tonnes of onion to help growers.
Story Source: Times Of India
Image Credit: BCCL