Farmers demand Govt intervention on decline in onion price

Kakinada, Jan 31 (UNI) Onion farmers today demanded Andhra Pradesh Government's intervention into the steep fall in the market price of their produce.

AP Ryot Sangham Secretary G Apparao and K S Srinivasulu, District Convenor of the tenant ryots, in a representation to the Collector said market intervention was the only way to stabilise the falling price of onions.

They said onions, which were sold at Rs 20 a kg till recently, had all of a sudden suffered a setback with its market price slashing to Rs 7 a kg and farmers were getting only Rs 2 to 3 per kg in return. The farmers were in a dilemma over their future, as they would not be able to cover even their actual costs on cultivation, he added.

If the situation continues, onion farmers might resort to committing suicides, they said. Stating that thousands of farmers' families in upland areas were dependent on onion cultivation, both the leaders urged the Government to directly purchase the onions from farmers by paying them reasonable prices and relieve them from distress sales.

UNI XC VA GL RAI2219