Onion growers intensify stir, demand lifting of ban on exports

Nashik, Oct 4 (UNI) Onion growers in the district today intensified their agitation, launched to protest against the ban on exports of the commodity, leading to most onion markets remaining closed here.

The farmers had yesterday called for the closure of auction of onions for two days. Asia's two beggest onion markets, Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon APMC market at Yeola, Manmad, Umrane, also remained closed today.

Pimpalgaon APMC sources, however, both said the markets were officially open today and if farmers brought the onions, auction would take place. But, the markets, where thousands of quintals of onion arrived for auction every day, wore a deserted look.

At Pimpalgaon, four tractors and three jeeps (approximately 210 quintal) of onions arrived in the morning. The maximum rates were Rs 1,600 and Rs 1,676 maximum.

UNI