Agri Varsity should give low rate onion seeds: Bhadane

The onion plantations in Maharashtra have been damaged to a large extent and the onion seed plots were also damaged due to the unseasonal rain and hailstorms, so the farmers are in need of onion seeds at low rates. The Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, should provide the kharif season Phule Samarth and Baswant 780 red variety onion seeds to farmers at low rates, urged Jaydeep Bhadane, Member of the State Core Committee of the Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers Association and Nashik District President, has through a letter sent to the University.

Since the last two to three years, the prices of the red onion seeds produced in Rahuri Agricultural University are high, so the farmers are forced to buy seeds from other seed producing companies at higher prices. Onion seeds were sold at the rate of Rs 1,500 per kg in 2021 and Rs 2,000 per kg in 2022 from Rahuri Agricultural University, while the sale should be done keeping in mind the interests of the farmers and not for commercial purposes.

Since there is no certainty in the market price of onion and since the last two-three years onions are getting bargain prices, it has become difficult for the farmers to meet their production costs. Besides, due to the nature’s unseasonal rains, hailstorms, heavy rains, the onion farmers have suffered huge losses.