Maharashtra Farmers Oppose Imposition of 40% duty on Onion Export

Nashik, Aug 21 (KNN) The farmers from over three districts in Maharashtra staged protest on Sunday against Centre’s decision to impose a 40% duty on the export of onion.

To address the situation, State Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said he would speak with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on August 22 and try to find some “amicable” solution to the issue, reported India Today.

A day after the Central government imposed a 40 per cent duty on the export of onions till December 31, 2023, wholesale markets at Satana, Malegaon and Lasalgaon (In Nashik district), in Ahmednagar, and at Manchar and Khed in Pune district saw protests by farmers.

Munde’s cabinet colleague Chhagan Bhujbal said he would raise the onion export duty issue with the state deputy chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

“I will request him to discuss this with officials in Delhi. We will try to take steps to find an amicable solution,” Bhujbal told reporters.

A Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS) leader said protests will be held in wholesale markets across Maharashtra to mount pressure on the Union government.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole alleged that the BJP-Shiv Sena government is pro-industrialists and pro-businessmen.

“The state government is trying hard to keep the prices of onions low and it doesn’t care about the interests of farmers. We condemn this decision (to impose the export duty on onions) of the Union government,” he said.

Earlier in the day, onion growers in Rahuri tehsil of Ahmednagar district halted the ongoing auction of the bulb in the wholesale market.  (KNN Bureau)