Lok Sabha Question No. 3768 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-09
Subject: Onion Production
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

O.I.H

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3768

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 TH   AUGUST, 2016

## ONION PRODUCTION

3768.      SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  farmers  producing  onion  in  different  parts  of  the  country  are getting much less price in comparison to their production cost;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  take  any  steps  for  providing remunerative prices to the onion growing farmers; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  S.S. AHLUWALIA)

- (a): Price  of  onion  differs  from  place  too  place  ad  depends  on  various  factors  such  as seasonality of production, quality of produce, mismatch in demand and supply etc..  Production of  onion  has  increased  about  7%  in  2015-16  over  the  previous  year.    The  average  cost  of production of rabi onion was around Rs.6-7 per kg.

The average wholesale prices of onion prevailing in major states are given below:

| (Rs. in Quintal)   | (Rs. in Quintal)        | (Rs. in Quintal)         | (Rs. in Quintal)       |
|--------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------|
| States             | Current Week 04/08/2016 | Previous Week 28/07/2016 | A Month Ago 04/07/2016 |
| Delhi              | 825                     | 825                      | 725                    |
| Haryana            | 1250                    | 1250                     | 1150                   |
| Punjab             | 1200                    | 1367                     | 900                    |
| Uttar Pradesh      | 1313                    | 1213                     | 1138                   |
| Gujarat            | 1275                    | 1175                     | 1150                   |
| Madhya Pradesh     | 742                     | 917                      | 933                    |
| Maharashtra        | 1269                    | 1269                     | 1169                   |
| Rajasthan          | 1067                    | 1050                     | 967                    |
| Bihar              | 1133                    | 1133                     | 1017                   |

| West Bengal   |   1450 |   1400 |   1200 |
|---------------|--------|--------|--------|
| Telangana     |   1200 |   1200 |   1200 |
| Seemandhra    |   1333 |   1367 |   1283 |
| Karnataka     |   1475 |   1500 |   1450 |
| Tamil Nadu    |   1280 |   1280 |   1340 |
| Average       |   1201 |   1210 |   1116 |

Source: D/o Consumer Affairs

(b) & (c): The is already implementing the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities including onion which are perishable in  nature  and  are  not  covered  under  the  Price  Support  Scheme  (PSS).    The  objective  of intervention  is  to  protect  the  growers  of  these  commodities  from  making  distress  sale  in  the event  of  a  bumper  crop  during  the  peak  arrival  period  when  the  prices  tend  to  fall  below economic levels and cost of production.  The MIS is implemented on the specific request of the State Government/UT Administration willing to share loss with the Central Government on 50:50 basis (75:25 in case of North Eastern States).  No proposal has been received from any State Government  so  far.    Other  steps  to  ensure  remunerative  price  to  farmers,  including  onion growers  are  facilitating  direct  marketing,  contact  farming,  setting  up  private  markets,  farmerconsumer  markets, e-markets  as well as providing market information to farmers on prices and arrivals in regulated markets on AGMARKNET portal.

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