Parthasarathi Biswas

A steep rise in wholesale and retail prices in the past few weeks had foxed the authorities as well as the markets. Trade sources now say the price hike noted in some markets towards the end of November and early December might have been artificial.

In September this year, the central government had unveiled a new pricing policy for ethanol.

In 2017-18, pink bollworm (PBW) infestation had led to high losses for farmers.

According to industry sources, Maharashtra’s per day milk collection at present is about 1.10 crore litres, much lower than the average collection of 1.40 crore litres in December last year.

On Thursday, retail prices of onion was Rs 160 per kg in Chennai, Rs 150 per kg in Pune, Rs 140 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 100 per kg in Delhi, according to data on the National Horticulture Board portal.

The bigger challenge before the government would be raising enough capital to finance the scheme. The precarious condition of the state’s exchequer may make implementation of the scheme difficult, said sources.

Onion has three production seasons: Kharif (transplanting in July-August and harvesting in October-December), late-kharif (October-November and January-March) and rabi (December- January and April-May).

In Maharashtra, the government procurement agencies, including Maharashtra Cooperative Marketing Federation, Vidarbha Cooperative Marketing Federation and MahaFPC, were entrusted to procure moong, urad and soya bean at government-notified minimum support price (MSP).

Starting this season, officers of the Sugar Commissionerate will publish Harvesting and Transportation (HnT) charges of individual mills in an area. How it will impact the millers and why are they apprehensive?

The present price comes at a time when around 4,500 tonnes of imported onions have reached the Indian shores from Egypt. A senior official of the ministry of agriculture said more onion is expected to reach the Indian markets later in December.

Maharashtra accounts for 1.3 lakh hectares out of the country’s 1.8 lakh hectares area under pomegranate. However, frequent droughts have turned the story upside down in the current decade.

Most of the mills in the sugar bowl districts of Kolhapur and Sangli are, however, yet to start their operations, as a final decision on cane pricing is yet to be arrived here.

Here's why the agitation for higher cane prices has become a near-permanent feature during Maharashtra’s crushing season.

The spotlight was back on farmers Saturday as Ajit, soon after taking the oath, told mediapersons that he chose to go with the BJP for government formation in the state so that the problems faced by the farmers are resolved at the earliest.

Now, all eyes are on the Oosh Parishad, or cane conclave, to be held in Kolhapur on Saturday, where Shetti is expected to announce the union’s demand about cane prices for the current season.

The Sanghtana, led by former MP Raju Shetti, started the agitation about a week ago to demand better realisation for cane farmers. The union has asked mills not to start their operations till a decision is made about cane pricing for the upcoming season.

Mills are finding it more profitable to supply to liquor makers than oil marketing companies.

This season, Maharashtra is set to crush 580 lakh tonnes of cane and produce around 58 lakh tonnes of sugar. Maharashtra’s cane acreage has dipped from 11.01 lakh hectares in 2018-19 to 8.53 lakh hectares.

Maharashtra’s cane crushing season is expected to start on November 25 — making it the most delayed start ever.