Raising concerns about the potential scarcity of onions and a subsequent price hike in retail markets, onion traders in Maharashtra’s Nashik district announced the suspension of auctions in all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) indefinitely. Traders said the reason behind the protest was the recent decision by the Union government to increase export duty on the kitchen staple by up to 40%, a measure set to remain in effect till December 31. The strike is likely to impact the onion prices across the country.
Speaking to The Hindu, Khandu Kaka Deore, president, Nashik District Onion Traders Association (NDOTA), said that around 25 APMCs in the district decided to go on strike protesting this export duty hike, which, they believe, would not only hinder onion exports but also impact onions in transit, causing significant losses to farmers
“Due to the protest, auctions of bulbs did not take place in any APMCs in Nashik district today [on Wednesday], including at Lasalgaon, with no onions arriving at the APMCs,” he said. The Lasalgaon APMC is the largest wholesale onion market in Asia.
