In India, due to the lockdown, farmers are forced to sell onion and potato, the most essential vegetables, at paltry prices. This is happening at a time when the market price of onions ranges between 34 and 40. A group of agri-businessmen from Karnataka is on a mission to help these farmers by supplying onions to retail traders in states including Kerala for less than Rs 19 per kg.
Maharashtra that covers 37% of the onion market is the largest producer. Karnataka that harvests 2300 MT of onions holds 9% of the market. Quality onions from Chitradurga, Dharwad, Haveri and Bagalkot are being sold by them. They deliver at least 10 tonnes to retail merchants in neighbouring states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The aim is to ensure decent income to the farmers.
Farmers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been struggling as they cannot even get the invested amonut. Even in Nasik, India’s largest onion market, loads of onion arrive daily, but the produce’s low- shelf life has made life difficult for farmers.
