HUBLI: In the wake of complaints about fall in onion prices, Dharwad North MP Pralhad Joshi and MLC Basavaraj Bommai have urged the State Government to intervene and announce minimum support price for the produce.

While Mr. Bommai has written a letter to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in this regard, Mr. Joshi has written to Minister for Agriculture Bandeppa Kashampur seeking steps to safeguard the interests of onion growers.

Since the farmers have got good yield this year, the quantity of onion coming into the market has increased. However, vested interests were trying to bring down the prices, they alleged.

Mr. Bommai said farmers in Dharwad district had grown onion in about 70,000 acres of land and the expected yield this year was six lakh tonnes. As the produce was being brought to the market in large quantities, suddenly there is a fall in the price of onion, he has said.

The farmers incur an expenditure of Rs. 3 on every kg of onion they grow. Owing to falling prices, they are unable to get at least the amount they spent on the cultivation. Every time the MSP is announced only after farmers stage protests and pour the crops on the roads, Mr. Bommai has said.

He urged the Chief Minister to immediately intervene in the market to stop the prices from falling and announce MSP for onion. Nashik is an important market for onion, and since onion crop has failed in that region this year, the Government should take steps to purchase onion directly from the farmers and sell it in the market, he has opined.

Mr. Bommai urged the Government to announce a minimum support price of Rs. 6 a kg and order for starting the procurement immediately.

Expressing concern over the fall in prices Mr. Joshi has urged the Agriculture Minister to take steps to announce MSP of Rs. 650 to Rs. 700 a quintal of onion. Delay in action would not only put farmers into trouble but also lead to agitations, he has warned.

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