Farmers suffering due to increased input costs: Supriya Sule slams Centre

Supriya Sule. File Pic

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule on Tuesday accused the (Bharatiya Janata Party) BJP-led Central government of being anti-farmer and said that the farmers are suffering due to the increased input costs, reported news agency ANI.

She criticised the central government's decision to impose 40 per cent duty on onion export.

"This government (BJP-led central govt) is against the farmers...The farmers are suffering due to the increased price of fuel and fertilizers. When they don't get MSP (Minimum Support Price) for every crop, what they will do?.. As I said this government (Central government) is anti-farmer," Supriya Sule said while talking to reporters.

She said that the central government was constantly coming up with anti-farmer policies. "If farmers fail to get enough returns for their produce, they will have to stop farming as it will not be an affordable occupation for them anymore," Sule said.

The NCP leader said that while onions were in surplus in India, the export of the crop is not allowed by the Central government depriving the prospect of farmers getting high prices.

"I tweeted four months ago addressing Piyush Goyal that onion is in high demand in the global market and it is in surplus in India. But the central government not allowed onions to be exported. it was a completely flawed policy for the farmers," Supriya Sule said.

Several opposition leaders have criticised the Centre's decision, saying that farmers would not be able to earn enough if they have to pay such a high duty.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said cold storages can provide a permanent solution to onion farmers' woes and he has directed officials to work on the issue.

Speaking at a press conference along with deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, he also said that the government is working on the concept of 'onion bank', and a panel headed by senior scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has been set up for it.

A section of farmers has been protesting against the Union government's decision to impose 40 per cent export duty on onion, a move aimed at dealing with price instability of the kitchen staple.

"There is a need to set up cold storages for onions. If this happens, there will be a permanent solution to the problems faced by farmers. The concerned department has been directed to work on two-three options to address this," Shinde said.

Nashik, Ahmednagar and parts of Pune district form a major onion-producing belt in Maharashtra.

The chief minister further said that the state government is in touch with the Centre over the issue and has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

State Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde went to Delhi on Monday night to meet Goyal, he added.

(With inputs ANI and PTI)