Onion Price Protest: Farmers Stand Firm in Lasalgaon

Farmers in Lasalgaon, Nashik protested by climbing a water tank, demanding the removal of a 20% export duty on onions that led to a significant price drop at APMC. The protest was called off after assurance from the Agriculture Minister. Regular auctions resumed the following day.

Farmers in Lasalgaon, Nashik, momentarily halted onion auctions in protest against falling prices. Climbing atop a water tank, they demanded the removal of a 20% export duty, which they claim caused the decline in onion valuations at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Asia's largest wholesale onion market.

Protesters were concerned over a price dip of Rs 300-500 for red and summer onions. With prices at Rs 1,000 per quintal minimum and Rs 2,201 per quintal maximum for summer crops, and Rs 800 per quintal minimum for red onions, the situation grew tense. Five days prior, prices were significantly higher, between Rs 2,250 and Rs 2,300.

After assurances from State Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and intervention of police to maintain order, the protest ended. Auctions resumed with 13,000 quintals of onions arriving at the market. Summer onion prices ranged from Rs 600 to Rs 1,951 as normalcy returned to the Lasalgaon APMC.

(With inputs from agencies.)