Maharashtra ministers to meet protesting farmer leaders tomorrow

Farmers started a protest march from Nashik to Mumbai on Monday in protest against the crashing prices of onion and other crops. Thousands of fathers had gathered to demand reforms in the agricultural sector and tribal land acquisitions.

Farmers in Maharashtra have been demanding higher prices for prices of crops such as onion tomatoes, fenugreek leaves, coriander leaves and Cauliflower. The surplus of Kharif and Kharif onion crops has led to a significant drop in crop prices.

The surge in supply ahead of schedule has sent prices crashing down to between Rs 7 and Rs 2 per kilo, depending on the quality.

Besides this, thousands of hectares of land have been damaged due to unseasonal rains, adding to the farmers' woes.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed on Monday that the preliminary information revealed that around 13,729 hectares have been damaged so far due to unseasonal rains. As per the Maharashtra government, crops in eight districts spread over 13,729 hectares are damaged.

Distressed by the sudden and sharp drop in onion prices and the alleged failure of the government to provide timely relief, farmers across the onion belt are finding it difficult to transport the crop even to Lasalgaon, Asia's biggest wholesale onion market.

To help farmers, the central government has also taken steps to help farmers. NAFED, the central government agency in charge of agricultural procurement, has ramped up onion purchases to stabilise prices. However, many farmers said the action, which is already late, is not enough.