How ban on onion export made NDA cry in Maharashtra

'The issue of onion prices was taken very lightly by the ruling alliance. Farmers decided to give prominence to their economy rather than fall for any emotional issue,' said Bharat Dighole, the president of the onion growers association.

Reacting to the development, Dighole and other onion growers in the area said this was solely due to the export ban on onion which saw farmers counting their losses. (PTI photo)

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Nashik, Bharat Dighole, the president of the onion growers association was served a notice to remain at home. This was done to prevent Dighole from agitating during the visit of Modi over onion prices.

On Tuesday, as results came trickling in, both the NDA candidates of Nashik district — union minister Dr Bharati Pawar of the BJP (Dindori) and Hemant Godse (Shiv Sena- Eknath Shinde; candidate from Nashik) lost to Bhaskar Bhagare (NCP- Sharadchandra Pawar) and Rajabhau Waze (Shiv Sena- UBT). In Dhule former minister Dr Subhash Bhamre (BJP) lost to Congress’s Shoba Bacchav, while in Ahmednagar Dr Sujay Vikhe Patil (BJP) got drubbed by Nilesh Lanke (NCP- Sharadchandra Pawar). BJP heavyweight Pankaja Munde lost to NCP (SP) Nilesh Lanke – the common thread in all these seats is the fact that onion is a major cash crop in this region.

Reacting to the development, Dighole and other onion growers in the area said this was solely due to the export ban on onion which saw farmers counting their losses.

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“The issue of onion prices was taken very lightly by the ruling alliance. Farmers decided to give prominence to their economy rather than fall for any emotional issue,” said Dighole.

Concerned over the possible rise in retail prices of onions, the central government had banned the export of onions. Across the onion belt, this decision had seen onion prices slide continuously. Meanwhile, the drought has hit production, doubling the worries of the onion growers.

As elections neared, the central government tried to assuage the anger of the onion growers by allowing calculated exports. But with the double ridders of the Minimum Export Price (MEP) of $550/tonne as well as a 40 per cent export duty, the Centre could not manage to calm down angers.

Onion as a cash crop plays an important role for farmers in around six Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra.

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Other than Nashik and Dindori, onion is an important crop in Ahmednagar, Shirur, Beed and Aurangabad among others.

Throughout the campaign, onion prices continued to be raked up even as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance tried to brush it under the carpet. Sujay Vikhe Patil, the BJP candidate from Ahmendnagar had even claimed that exports were being allowed in a calibrated manner.

Parthasarathi Biswas

Partha Sarathi Biwas is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express with 10+ years of experience in reporting on Agriculture, Commodities and Developmental issues. He has been with The Indian Express since 2011 and earlier worked with DNA. Partha's report about Farmers Producer Companies (FPC) as well long pieces on various agricultural issues have been cited by various academic publications including those published by the Government of India. He is often invited as a visiting faculty to various schools of journalism to talk about development journalism and rural reporting. In his spare time Partha trains for marathons and has participated in multiple marathons and half marathons. ... Read More

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