"I have already boosted my onion purchase from the Rabi harvest from 2.5 lakh tonnes last year to 3 lakh tonnes this year to guarantee farmers get a fair price," as per Piyush Goyal.
He further stated that the National Cooperative Consumers Federation and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) had been asked to pick up 'late kharif' crop inventories, but that the produce is not currently available in markets.
Farmers in Maharashtra have been protesting after a significant reduction in onion prices over the last month. Farmers have reportedly dumped onions in front of marketplaces, including the largest in Nashik district's Lasalgaon.
Farmers claim they are receiving very low harvest rates, which are a fraction of input expenses, and have called on governmental agencies to intervene, citing widespread stress.
They blame the monsoon season for extending longer, the higher prices commanded by 'late kharif' in the previous two seasons, which pushed many to plant the specific type with a shorter shelf life, and the impact on exports as major producers such as Bangladesh have begun cultivating their own onion.
Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government decided to compensate onion growers with Rs 300 per quintal due to the price drop.
Rabi onion crops harvested between April and June account for 65% of India's onion production and meet consumer demand until the kharif crop is harvested between October and November.
Overall onion production is expected to increase to 31.70 million tonnes in 2021-22, up from 26.64 million tonnes the previous year, with the Centre purchasing 2.50 lakh tonnes.
