Nasik onion traders on strike, prices drop in Maharashtra

Mumbai/New Delhi, Jan.10 (ANI): Onion traders in Nasik, Maharashtra, are on strike, even as the prices of the product have come down drastically.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar welcomed the drop in onion prices, saying that it "is a good sign".

In fact, in Navi Mumbai, farmers have brought their produce directly to the APMC Market of Vashi and started selling onions at prices as cheap as just Rs.10 per kilogram.

The farmers collectively hired around 160 trucks from Nashik and surrounding districts and reached the market.

On Sunday, onion traders in Nasik District decided not to purchase onions for two days - Monday and Tuesday -- from Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) to protest state government's directive that onions should not sell over Rs.40 per kg.

The Nashik District Onion Traders Association met in Umrane and took this decision, said Suresh Parikh, an onion trader.

Income tax department yesterday raided houses and godowns of four onion traders -- two in Lasalgaon and one each at Nashik and Pimpalgaon, but did not find evidence of onion hoarding.

The APMC will open tomorrow, and auctions of fresh incoming stocks would be held. (ANI)