Onion prices in Maharashtra hovering at 2-year lows, farmers seek govt help

Seek MSP of Rs 8.5 a kg as they are incurring a loss of Rs 2-3 a kg on sales, if transport cost is included; very few tillers have option of switching to more remunerative crops

With onion prices hovering at near two-year lows, farmers across Maharashtra have been urging the state government to fix a minimum selling price of Rs 8.5 a kg of the bulb for the current season to make its future cultivation remunerative.

Despite a very small quantity left over from the last season, stored onions are quoting at one or two rupees a kg. This has also pulled down prices of new variety rabi onions to Rs 6-7 a kg in the wholesale