MP to buy onion at Rs 6 a kg from farmers

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said his government will buy onions at Rs 6 per kg from farmers in an effort to alleviate their problem of plenty.

The chief minister made the announcement during an event to mark the Centre's 'Gramoday se Bharat Uday' campaign at Phanda Vikaskhand's Gram Panchayat.

Due to over-production of onions this year, farmers are facing a problem of glut and have not been able to recover the cost price for their produce.

This has led to farmers throwing away their stock on the streets and roads as a means of protest.

Chouhan said the state government wants to make agriculture a booming sector, but over-production can lead to problems.

He said he was unable to get sleep when he learnt of farmers throwing away their onion produce.

Chouhan said that if the market price of onions goes below Rs 6 a kg then his government will step in to purchase the onions at the price promised.

Chouhan is to address all the village councils across the state via state-run Doordarshan and discuss ideas on progress and development.

The 'Gramoday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan' was launched on April 14, to mark the birth anniversary of Dalit icon B.R. Ambedkar.