The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged a protest demanding a minimum support price (MSP) for onions and blocked the Pune-Nashik Highway. They are advocating for an MSP of Rs 3,000 per quintal to support struggling farmers who are facing low onion prices. State Congress chief, Harshwardhan Sapkal, criticized the Central Government’s policies that have adversely affected onion farmers.
During the protest, the MVA also called for subsidies on onions sold at lower rates and the procurement of all farmers’ onions through NAFED for fair treatment. Various political figures including NCP-SP State President Shashikant Shinde and NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar were present at the demonstration to support the cause.
Sapkal highlighted the financial crisis faced by Maharashtra farmers due to inflation, rising production costs, and inadequate prices for agricultural goods. He emphasized the plight of onion growers who are struggling to cover their production costs with plummeting market prices. The government’s delayed procurement process has exacerbated the situation, leading to increased hardships for farmers.
The demand is for a transparent procurement process through Agricultural Produce Market Committees to ensure fair treatment for farmers. Sapkal stressed the need to prioritize farmers’ welfare over traders’ profits and ensure a just MSP for their produce. The MVA and Congress party are standing in solidarity with farmers, vowing to continue their fight until onion growers receive fair prices and necessary relief.
