प्याज

Due to rising onion prices, the central government has taken another major decision. The government will continue the purchase of onions in all the mandis across India. The government will continue to interfere till the price falls.

The central government has so far taken various important steps to decrease the rising onion prices, the effect of which has also started appearing. After the intervention of the government, onion prices have fallen to Rs 60 per kg. In the middle of this, the central government has taken a big decision, which will give relief to onion farmers as well as customers.

Central government will continue to procure onion continuously

Actually, the government has decided to continue the purchase of onions. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh has said that the government has decided to continue the purchase of onions. This purchase will be held in all the mandis across India. He has said that until the onion prices are reduced, the government will purchase onion.

Onion exports were banned last week

For your information, the government has banned onion exports till 31 March last week. The government has taken this step with the aim of keeping onion domestic prices under control and increasing availability. However, onion producing farmers are not happy with this decision and are opposing it in different parts of India. In Nashik district of Maharashtra, onion producing farmers are demanding to withdraw this decision. In the midst of this protest of farmers, the government has decided to continue the purchase of onions.

Export ban will not affect farmers

The Secretary of Consumer Affairs says that the government is expecting that by January onion prices will reach the current average price by Rs 57.02 per kg to reach below Rs 40 per kg. He said that the export ban will not have any effect on farmers. Also, it is a small group of traders who are taking advantage of the middle gaps in Indian and Bangladesh markets.

NAFED has so far sent more than 3,000 tonnes of onion to many markets in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. At the same time, approval has been sought from the Consumer Ministry to start sales in the mandis of Uttar Pradesh. Sources say major cities like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh are likely to be covered initially.

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) sold more than 900 tonnes of onion through the online platform e-NAM on August 30-31. This also includes trade of 152 tonnes through inter-state transactions. The sale of onion through the e-NAM platform was the government's immediate response to protests by traders in some mandis in Maharashtra. Where he had stopped the auction in protest against the 40 percent export duty imposed on onions. In response, the government had directed both NAFED and NCCF to explore alternative routes for releasing onion storage.

The purpose of this sale was to prevent the price of onion from increasing. However, onion farmers suffered huge losses due to the efforts of the government. But, the government ignored the farmers and only took care of the interests of the consumers. The government did not want that after tomato, the price of onion should also increase. Also, there should be no uproar regarding this, because he has to face elections soon.

Possibility of increasing sales through e-NAM

NAFED which had started the sale of onion through e-NAM. After taking physical stock from Lasalgaon, Maharashtra, one was able to sell 5,08.11 tonnes within the state. The National Consumer Cooperative Federation (NCCF) used both intra-state mandi and inter-state transactions. Lasalgaon Mandi is located in Nashik, Maharashtra. It is claimed that this is the largest onion market in Asia.

Also read: What caused the record-breaking fall in onion prices?

Sources say that both agencies are likely to increase sales through e-NAM. This can happen if more traders are brought on stage during the auction and they are made to understand the quality and logistics issues. The government has already provided the facility for the logistics value chain in the agriculture sector on the e-NAM portal.

Why did the farmers become very angry?

On August 17, the central government imposed a 40 percent duty on onion export. In protest against this, farmers and traders organized a strike in markets like Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon and got them closed. To reduce the resentment of farmers, the government decided to purchase an additional 2 lakh tonnes of onion. But, common farmers did not get any special benefit from this.

On the other hand, the government decided to release onion in the market from the buffer stock of 3 lakh tonnes already created. After that, a decision was taken to purchase 2 lakh more tonnes. Before that, NCCF had sold about 21,000 tonnes of onion and NAFED had sold about 15,000 tonnes of onion. The Center announced on August 11 that it will release onions in the open market from the buffer stock by targeting the major markets of those states or regions. Where retail prices are very high.

NAFED will launch Onion in these markets

Official sources say that NAFED has so far sent more than 3,000 tonnes of onion to various markets in Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Also, approval has been sought from the Consumer Ministry to start sales in the mandis of Uttar Pradesh. Sources say that major cities like Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh are likely to be covered initially. After that, depending on the response, other places can also be included.

Central government had made all the arrangements to stop the inflation before the upcoming festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali. The government has its focus on farmers too along with common people. For the same reason, the centre had abolished the export duty charges from regular varieties of onion. The central government has taken a big decision for Onion producing farmers. They have removed export duty over onions. Millions of farmers took a breath of relief after this. It is being said that it will benefit the farmers. They will get good prices for onions now. Whereas, the finance ministry has also issued a notification regarding removal of export duty over onions. The special thing about this is that the central government has removed export duty on only Bengaluru Rose varieties of onions. The government stated in its notification that the permission to export has been made on some terms and conditions. According to the government, from this decision, Onion producers will get the benefit directly.

Read this also: due to decrease in the price of onions, problems have arisen for Gujarat farmers

At what rates, onions are being sold 

Actually, to Stop the increasing price of onions, the central government had put a 40 percent export duty on onions in the last month of August. At that time, the government justified it as their step to stop the inflation. The export duty will be charged on onion till 31 December 2023. The government expected that this will decrease the export of onions from the country and the stock of onion will increase. This will result in decreasing the rates of onions in the market. However, this decision of the government resulted in lowering the price of onions. At present the 40 rupees selling onions are now sold at 30 to 35 rupees per kilogram.

Read this also: the price of onion in this country has blown up the minds of common people

The supply of onion is done in these countries 

Let us tell you that this Bengaluru rose variety of onion has high demand in foreign countries. Its major export is being done in countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. Along with this, the exporters will have to show the certification of quality of Bengaluru rose onion for export in the horticulture commission of Karnataka. As the government has made it compulsory to show the certification.

In the past few days, the price of onion has skyrocketed to Rs 100 per kilogram in several Indian states. Additionally, on Friday, the average wholesale price of onion in Lasalgaon, which is India's largest wholesale onion market, plummeted by 24% in just five days, to Rs 3,650 per quintal. It's worth noting that the recent surge in onion prices before the Diwali festival has raised concerns among consumers. As a result, the Central Government has taken several measures to curb the rise in prices. Furthermore, the Department of Consumer Affairs is considering setting a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne of onion from October 29, 2023, to December 31, 2023, to address the decline in exports and increase supplies in the domestic market.

Onion prices fall by 24 percent in Lasalgaon

On Friday, it was reported by a media agency that the average wholesale prices of onions in Lasalgaon, India's largest wholesale onion market, had dropped by 24 percent in just five days to Rs 3,650 per quintal. Interestingly, the average wholesale price of onions in Lasalgaon had increased from Rs 2,050 per quintal on October 3 to Rs 4,800 per quintal on October 28. The recent surge in onion prices could be attributed to several factors, including a shortage of supply in both domestic and export markets. In light of this, it would be beneficial to discuss in detail the possible reasons behind the increase in onion prices.  

Also read: The central government has completed its preparations to control inflation before the festival. As a part of this effort, the government has imposed a 40 percent tax on the export of onions to limit their sale in the international market. Previously, there was no export tax on onions. Additionally, the Center has set the Minimum Export Price (MEP) for onion exports at Rs 66,730 per tonne, which means that until December 31, 2023, no onion trader can export onions at a price lower than this.

For your information this year, due to lack of rain, the arrival of red onion is coming from delay. It was planted with delay, as the monsoon rains started with great delay in most of the states in the state. Farmers hope that onion prices will remain stable till the new onion comes in plenty in the market in the coming time. Explain that onion is getting brilliant in the Karanjad sub -market located in Washim district in the state of Maharashtra. Explain that about 19 thousand 500 quintals of summer red onion came from about one thousand vehicles. Red onions have a higher price than summer onions.

According to market committee Chairman Manisha Pagar and Secretary Santosh Gaikwad, summer onions have the highest number of Rs 3300 to 3695 per quintal and average price of Rs 3000 per quintal. In comparison, red onion got the price of Rs 4150 and an average of Rs 3600 per quintal. After the fifteen day holiday of Diwali, the onion market has been getting excellent since the opening of the onion market on Monday. Summer onion season is in its last stage. Also, it is expected that onion prices will remain stable in the coming time.

Reason for delay in arrival of red onion

This year, the rude weather means that the arrival of red onions is being delayed due to lack of rain. Actually, it was planted with great delay. Because, in most of the states, monsoon rains were very delayed. Farmers are hopeful that onion prices will be controlled in the coming time till new onions come in plenty in the market. Prior to Diwali, onion prices had reached Rs 5,000 per quintal. This was the reason that there was only summer onion in the market; new onions had not come. The arrival of red onions with the kharif season has started. This has reduced the price.

Why does the government not come to help farmers

However, in the past, thousands of farmers have sold their onions at cheaper prices. Onion producing farmers union officials have expressed the response, saying that more traders are benefiting from farmers. Earlier, when the Kisan was selling 200 rupees a quintal onion, the government did not provide assistance. Now when the prices were a little cured, the price came out. Farmers are angry with this type of attitude. For a long time, the farmers of the state have sold onions at a lower price than the cost of production. The government should then help them.

What has Mandi Samiti appeal to farmers

Currently, after diwali, the arrival of onion in the m A large amount of onion is coming from areas in the Karanjad sub -divisional campus. Secretary Santosh Gaikwad, Arun Ahire has appealed that the farmers should sell the goods and take cash payments from the traders concerned after the auction. While parking the vehicle, farmers should cooperate with the market committee administration.

Maharashtra is a major onion producing state of India. Here production of onions is done on a large scale. Here, onions are cultivated three times a year. Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Dhule and Ahmednagar are considered strongholds in the state for onion production. At present, Rabi season onion planting has started in Maharashtra. Farmers cultivate maximum onion in the state and here Asia’s largest onion market is in Lasalgaon, Nashik. Generally, cultivation of onions is done only once a year in different states. But it is nothing like here in Maharashtra. Three crops are done during a year in the state. Here it is produced in Kharif, post-Kharif and in Rabi season. Onions are a cash crop in Maharashtra. A majority of farmers here depend on its cultivation. Farmers get maximum production of onion in the Rabi season. 

When is the sowing of the second season of onion done?

The second season of  onion is sown in the month of october-november , which is currently being done in the state. It gets ready in between January and march. The third crop of onion is Rabi, which is sown in December-January. At the same time, it is harvested from March to May. 60 percent of total production of onion in the state occurs in Rabi season only. 

Onion is produced in large quantities in these districts of Maharashtra.  

Onion is cultivated most in Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Satara, Nashik, Pune and Solapur districts of Maharashtra. At the same time, farmers cultivate this crop in Marathwada district of Maharashtra. Nashik is famous for producing onions not only in Maharashtra but all over India. Out of its total production in India, 37 percent of onion is produced in Maharashtra and 10 percent of the onion production in the state is done only in Nashik.

What should be the soil for onion cultivation?

According to agricultural scientists, onions can be cultivated in different types of soil. But, excellent yield is obtained only in soils like clay, sand, loamy, gar and brown soil. To get high yield in onion cultivation, there should be good drainage facilities in the field.

What type of land should it be?

To prepare for the cultivation , first plowing of the land should be done three to four times. Also, add rotten manure to increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. After this, divide the field into small plots. Planting should be done on a 1.2 meter wide strip at a height of 15 cm from the land surface. 

How much fertilizers should be used?

Onion crop requires a large amount of nutrients. Manure and fertilizer should be used in onion crops on the basis of soil test. Rotten cow dung manure should be used in the field at the rate of 20-25 tonnes per hectare from one-two months before planting.

Great onion varieties and pruning time.

Bhima Shweta: This variety of white onion is already approved for Rabi season, this variety gives an average yield of 18-20 tonnes in Kharif while it gives an average yield of 26-30 tonnes in Rabi.

Bhima Super: This red onion variety has been identified for production in the Kharif season. It can also be grown as a late crop in the Kharif season. This variety gets ripe in a time interval of 95-100 days. Its production is approximately 20-22 tonnes per hectare.

Talking about the right time to prune onions, the right time to remove onions from the fields is when the moisture in the plant gets exhausted and its bulb starts coming up almost on its own.

People living in countries around the world have been facing the wrath of inflation for many days. Even India is not spared from its blow. The effect of rising inflation in the country is also being seen in food items. According to various media reports, the prices of vegetables are also increasing significantly. Talking about tomato, its price has increased by 50 percent on an annual basis. Also, it is being sold in the retail market for up to Rs 30 per kg.

The situation of onion is also similar. However, the retail price of onion has increased by 20%. These have increased to Rs 30 per kg. Not only this but it has also been said in some news that the prices of potatoes, tomatoes, onions, etc. will increase in the coming times. Talking about last year, there was a decline in the prices of tomatoes and potatoes. Due to an unfavorable monsoon in July 2023, tomato prices increased by more than 200%.

The government has taken strict steps to control prices

The government works to keep the prices of tomatoes and onions under control. Some time ago, tomatoes were sold at very high prices in different regions of India. In some places, its price had reached Rs 100 to Rs 250. After which the government took serious steps regarding the matter and controlled its prices by repairing its chain. 

Also read: Due to uneven gap between demand and supply of onion and tomato, prices reached sky-high

Onion inflation is making people cry

At present, onion is being sold in the retail market for Rs 30 per kg. At the same time, its retail prices have seen a decline of 25% in the last three months. In October 2023, onion prices had increased by 74%, after which the export of onion was banned by the Central Government. Along with this, the government had also decided to sell onions at the price of Rs 25. Due to the efforts of the Central and Maharashtra Governments, the price in Nashik Mandi has come down to Rs 1000/quintal, which was Rs 2000/quintal at the beginning of the month.