Pune to do a Mumbai,open vegetable outlets to regulate prices

Talking about onions that are being sold for Rs 60-70 per kilogram in the market in Pune,he said the outlets opened by the government in Mumbai were selling the vegetable for Rs 52 a kilo. “One should understand that nearly 47 per cent land growing onions in Maharashtra had no produce due to last year’s drought. The same was the situation in the neighbouring states,” he said.

According to Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board General Manager Sameer Borkar,80 societies have already confirmed that they are willing to start this initiative on their premises. “We have created six zones for Pune and appointed 24 officers to do a detail survey of societies as well as corporation lands that can be used for the purpose. We are working with corporation officials for the NOC while some farmers have agreed to directly sell their produce through kiosks that can be set up with a subsidy given to them. We are also encouraging them to have vans for the purpose. Subsidy will be given in this case,” said Borkar.

The government is also encouraging the farmers to set up retail outlets for which they will be given a subsidy of up to Rs 4 lakh. “We should be able to start the initiative in a month’s time,” said Borkar.

In Mumbai,the government had roped in a wholesalers’ federation to procure vegetables from collection centres of the state-run Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) to get the scheme under way. Institutions like Apna Bazar and Sahakari Bhandar voluntarily came forward to supply vegetables.

Societies in Pune have,meanwhile,welcomed the farmer-to-consumer move. “This will be a good arrangement considering the rising cost of vegetables. More societies should make space available for the farmers,” said Pushpa Chavan,a resident of a society in Pashan area.

“Vans and kiosks selling vegetables should be encouraged. The initiative is definitely a welcome move,” said Suraj Rajput,a resident of Wanowrie.

Farmers who are able to sell their produce directly are happy that they would get subsidy for starting these kiosks as part of a long-term arrangement. “Such initiative will benefit us. The money will be directly given to us,so we will be able to sell vegetables at a lower price,” said Sanjay Waghmode,who already has a van to sell his produce.

Common price for onions likely

State Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the soaring onion prices would be regularised after a discussion with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday. “We have already come up with alternatives and will be discussing the same with the chief minister,” he said,adding that a common price was likely to be declared.