Dharwad: The onion farmers in the Dharwad district who expect a good income this year after suffering losses for the previous two years in disappointment again.
The increase in onion prices has caused the expectations of farmers but their hopes have run with intermediaries and traders who play rotten.
Consumers are issuing Rs 50-60 per kg of onions in the market while intermediaries and traders pay for Rs 10-20 per kg farmers.
Traders cite low onion quality for reasons of low prices they offer to farmers.
Farmers in the Dharwad district have suffered losses for one or other reasons.
Despite the low results last year, this time the price is low.
Onion is one of the main agricultural products in this district.
According to officials, onions are cultivated in 21000 hectares in the district and the expected results are 3.5 lakh tons this year.
Navalgund, Annigereri and part of Dharwad Taluk that has black land is an area where onions are planted.
Because of heavy rains, rotten onions in several regions and in several other places, farmers have voluntarily releasing onion plants after heavy rains in an effort to use other plants.
After crashing in the price of onions paid to farmers, farmers in some areas are reluctant to bring products to the market because it involves transportation costs.
They expect the government to save them by allowing the purchase of onions under the minimum support price scheme.
“Stairs and traders are failed farmers.
They threaten farmers that they will not even be able to sell products if onions from Pune and other places arrive.
The only solution to our problems in government market intervention,” said Shrisailgouda Kamatar, a leader farmer.
Responding to requests, the Shankar District Minister Patil Munenakopp said the government would come to save the onion farmers and the decision to establish a purchase center will soon be taken at the meeting of officials and farmer leaders.