The Hindu Business Line : Maharashtra to procure, sell onions thru cooperatives

IN order to stabilise the onion prices in Mumbai, the State Government has decided to procure and sell onions through its cooperative network in the city.

From Thursday, 100 tonnes onions would be made available at Rs 13 per kg through the cooperative mechanism, said Mr Harshavardhan Patil, State Cooperative Minister.

He was speaking to the media at the Secretariat on Monday.

Due to heavy rainfall in August, the onion crop in the State has suffered losses, which coupled with reduced stocks and market rumours of impending acute shortage, has led the current price rise, Mr Pail said.

The Agriculture Produce Market Committee of the Mumbai, Pune and Nashik would buy onions from the farmers, transport it to Mumbai and make it available through more than 100 cooperative stores such as Apna Bazzar and Sahakari Bhandar, which are controlled by the Cooperative Ministry.

Taxes such as cess and octroi have been waived on this commodity. About 1.5 to 2 lakh tonnes of onion is currently available in Maharashtra and if the need be, it could be procured from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh also, Mr Patil said.

"Since onion is outside the purview of the Essential Commodities Act the State Government cannot take action against hoarders," the Minister said.

"We will make sure that the onion prices do not hit the roof. This market intervention measure would stem the rising prices of onions, which have reached Rs 22 per kg in retail market. The State Government would continue this process till September 30 and then it would review the situation."

There would be about 15 per cent reduction in kharif production of onion due to the climatic conditions. The production has further been hit due to reduced acreage, as the onion has been in low demand in the past few years, Mr Patil said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
NCDEX makes delivery a must for 2 contracts

Weekend rains hold hope for soya farmers

Maharashtra to procure, sell onions thru cooperatives

Rubber prices move up sharply

Tea shipments via Amingaon ICD up

Competition makes things tough for tea exports

Rains brighten TN tea crop prospects

Imported edible oils decline

Coffee industry split over stocks availability