Business

Onion farmers stage protest on Mumbai NH, stop auctions over ban on exports

Onion farmers blocked the Mumbai Agra Highway at three places in Maharashtra’s Nashik and stopped auctions in wholesale markets of the district on Friday after the Centre announced a ban on the export of the kitchen staple, police said.
The Centre has banned onion exports till March 31, 2024, to increase domestic availability and to keep prices in check.
Farmers stopped auctions at onion markets of Lasalgaon, Chandwad, Nandgaon, Dindori, Yeola, Umarane and other places in Nashik district on Friday, an official said.
According to officials, auctions were not held at Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), but were conducted at Vinchur and Niphad sub-committees of Lasalgaon APMC.
As many as 600 vehicles laden with onions arrived at Vinchur on Friday. The minimum price was at Rs 1,500 per quintal, maximum at Rs 3,300 per quintal and Rs 2,700 per quintal average, they said.
Hundreds of cultivators gathered on the Mumbai-Agra Highway and blocked the road using tractors a