GADAG: Following protests by onion farmers on Monday evening, the Gadag district administration resumed procurement of onion on Tuesday. However, the procurement was restricted to the produce brought by the farmers on Saturday.

Rasta roko

The State Government has suspended procurement of onion under Minimum Support Price (MSP) for ten days from Sunday.

To protest against the decision, the farmers of Gadag district, especially those belonging to Binkadakatti and Asundi villages in Gadag taluk, resorted to rasta roko on Gadag-Karwar Road on Monday evening.

The farmers criticised the decision to suspend the procurement of onion and urged the Government to continue the procurement under MSP. The road was blocked till 10 p.m.

Protest withdrawn

The villagers withdrew their protest after D.R. Patil, MLA, rushed to the spot and got them an assurance from district in-charge Minister B. Sriramulu on phone that steps would be taken to continue the procurement of onion.

Farmers staged similar protests in Gadag also.

According to sources, Mr. Sriramulu spoke to the Minister and officials concerned, following which a decision was taken on Tuesday to continue the procurement for the benefit of those farmers who had brought their produce to the procurement centres on Saturday.

Allegation

Meanwhile, former MLA and district unit president of BJP Shrishailappa Bidarur staged a protest in Gadag on Tuesday alleging that middlemen were taking advantage of the procurement process.

He alleged that some "influential" merchants were purchasing onion from farmers at a lower rate and were reselling the produce at procurement centres at a higher price. Mr. Bidarur submitted a memorandum in this regard to the district administration.

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