Farmers who live in Kadapa, India, are experiencing financial difficulties that are significant because there isn’t the minimum support price (MSP) in the market for onion. Prices that fluctuate greatly are able to rise or drop without notice making them economically at risk. Between June and May onions were grown over a vast area of 2,023 acres across the districts that include Mydukuru, Jammalamadugu, Pulivendula as well as Kamalapuram.

The sowing in late May produced a bumper harvest with prices ranging between $37-$43 per quntal (100 kg) that allowed farmers to recoup their investment and earn profits. However, this optimism did not last long as the June sowing was impacted by rain, which caused the prices to plummet to 12 cents per quintal. As a result, farmers have urged the government to intervene immediately and suggest that discussions with the Centre in order to lift the restriction on international exports may be beneficial. They suggest that government purchases of onions, at a cost of $31 per qt could ease the financial pressure they currently face.

Source: The New Indian Express