A farmer from Paithan taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has once again brought attention to the deepening agrarian distress in Maharashtra after receiving a sale receipt showing a net amount of just Re 1 for his onion produce.
Onion sale yields Re 1
Prakash Galadhar, a 45-year-old farmer from Varudi village, sold 25 sacks of onions at the Paithan Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) on May 3. The total sale value was Rs 1,262, which worked out to Re 1 per kilogram. However, after deductions for transport, weighing, storage, and other charges, Galadhar was left with nothing and was instead asked to pay Re 1.
“I tried to sell onions cultivated on four acres. After getting very poor prices, I threw away the rest of the produce with a very heavy heart,” Galadhar said.
Symbol of onion crisis
The Re 1 bill has since gone viral on social media, becoming a stark symbol of the onion crisis gripping the region. Falling prices have made onion cultivation economically unviable for many farmers already burdened with debt. Galadhar said the losses have compounded his financial struggles. “I got my daughter married off a couple of years ago and still have to repay money to different people. The onion crisis has left me dejected,” he added.
Quality and oversupply blamed
Traders attribute the price crash partly to quality issues and oversupply. Ibrahim Bagwan, a licensed trader at Paithan APMC, said, “Before making a deal, we had told him that he was not going to gain anything. Despite that, Galadhar insisted on selling his onions with the hope of getting some government help later.” He added that better-quality onions are currently fetching Rs 400 to Rs 800 per 100 kilograms.
Systemic issues acknowledged
Market officials, however, acknowledge a broader systemic problem. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar APMC chairman Radhakisan Pathade said, “There is a big mismatch between demand and supply of onions, with huge quantities of produce arriving in local markets. The current purchase and export policies of the government need to be modified to address the issue.” He noted that average prices have dropped to around Rs 400 per 100 kilograms, far below the viable level. “The farmers should get at least Rs 1,200 per 100 kilograms if not more. However, the skewed ratio between demand and supply is offering throwaway prices,” Pathade said.
Political reactions
Politicians have also weighed in, criticising the government’s response. “The government does nothing but make announcements. Today, the onion-growing farmers are utterly distraught. The government must provide farmers with a guaranteed support price. If the crisis continues, no farmer will yield onion crops,” said Kalyan Kale, the Congress MP from Jalna. State agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne could not be reached for his comments.
