Wholesale Market To Suspend Trading In Onions for 2 hrs today.

PUNE: Farmers' organisations, commission agents and traders have decided to suspend onion trading in the wholesale market in the city for two hours between 8 am and 10 am on Friday to press for lifting of the ban on onion export.

The city-based agriculture produce market committee (APMC) is a major channel of onion supply to South India. The commission agents trading onions in the APMC have decided to suspend onion trading for two hours to extend their support to the farmers.

Statements issued by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Shetkari Sanghatana have said that their agitation was against the ban on onion export and have requested the commission agents trading onions to suspend the activity. Both the organisations met APMC administrator Shailesh Kotmire, Shivalal Bhosale, chairman of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Commission Agents' Association at the APMC, former chairman Vilas Bhujbal and Ritesh Poman, senior trader from the APMC on Thursday afternoon.

The farmers' organisations have demanded indefinite suspension of onion trading even in the domestic market to put pressure on the Union government. Last Friday, the Union government imposed a ban on onion export anticipating a rise in domestic prices. Farmers from Maharashtra, who would have benefited from onion exports, have started agitations at various locations.

Meanwhile, the state agriculture minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also admitted that the decision to ban export was based on incorrect figures and said that he will take up the issue with the Union government.

Farmers' organisations tried to stop onion trading on Thursday, but Kotmire intervened to postpone the move.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com