Unlikely effect: Traders’ strike brings onion prices down

Traders’ refusal to pick up onion supplies at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Nashik in protest over the income tax raids has benefited citizens.

Traders’ refusal to pick up onion supplies at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Nashik in protest over the income tax raids has benefited citizens.

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On Monday, farmers from the region thronged the APMC market at Vashi, leading to a surge in supply and a drop of around Rs 10 a kg in prices.

According to APMC director, Ashok Walunj, “Compared to 90-100 trucks coming to the market lately, on Monday, a record 170 trucks arrived.”

He added, “As the supply was good, prices dropped. Onions that were selling for Rs 40-45 a kg last week, sold for Rs 30-35 a kg on Monday.”

Farmers, however, were not happy. Pravin Manohar, a farmer from Nashik, said, “Onions are perishable, so we have to sell them at the earliest. We drove six hours to come to Mumbai as the Nashik market was closed. Some got spoilt, but we were able to sell the produce. And, we got lower prices because large quantities of onions were brought in.”