With no state help, onion brings tears to farmers

Nizamabad district is one of the producers of onions in Telangana state. Of 36 mandals, farmers in 20 mandals have been cultivating onions in 2,060 hectares. Narsinghpur, a tiny village known as Kothapet in Dichpally mandal is well-known for cultivation of onions since decades together.

This correspondent visited Narsingapur village and interacted with onion farmers. 75-year-old Darmai Pedda Balaiah said that his ancestors too cultivated the onions in the village. “We are recognised as onion farmers for decades and other villagers have also followed us,” he added.

A young farmer Dabbai Nadpi Narsaiah said that decades-old cultivation practises did not improve yield. There is no godown facility to store the crop, he said, “If the government provides drip irrigation system, onion cultivation can be increased in the district,” he said. There have been fluctuation in onion prices for the last few years, but officials failed to take care about the crop, he added

According to horticulture department sources, onions are being cultivated in 2,060 ha in the district and it would be doubled next year. The farmers lined up to get subsidy seed of onions in the present season. The government distributes one kg onion seeds a packet worth Rs 1,000 for Rs 250 only.

Meanwhile, a few fertilizer and pesticide companies are misguiding the farmers on onion crops.

Overdose and inferior quality of fertilisers, damages the onions in the cultivation stage. M. Lakshmi Narsaiah, native of Rampur village in Dichpally mandal said that government should pay attention on onion farmers to prevent skyrocketing prices.

“I am supplying onions from Nizamabad to various parts of the Telangana state. Compared with Maharashtra, the local farmers lack in cultivation methods,” he said.

The assistant director of horticulture, Nizamabad, M.Samuel said that climatic conditions and soil did not favour year-long cultivation of onions in Nizamabad district. Western parts of Nizamabad and Medak district land is similar to the Maharashtra and farmers cultivate onions without any problems, he said. The state government is planning a storage facility for onions to overcome the problem to some extent, he said.

State government is reportedly bearing Rs 29 subsidy amount on each kilogram of red onions which it purchases for Rs 46 per kg from wholesale Lasalgaom market in Nashik in bordering Maharashtra and incurs Rs 3 transport charges per kg. But it supplies 2 kg of those onions for Rs 20 per kg to each family. It is learnt that state government is purchasing huge quantities of red onions from Lasalgaom market for all the districts in the state.

Nearly 230 quintals of subsidised red onion have been distributed to customers on showing Aadhaar card, ration card or any other proof in the last 20 days at Adilabad Rythu Bazaar alone. Long queues were seen in front of the selling counter at Rythu Bazaars for subsidised red onions. There is huge demand for subsidised red opinions being supplied through marketing department.

In-charge estate officer of Adilabad Rythu Bazaar Jaisheelan said there is good demand for subsidised red onions as the white onions are being sold at at '50 - 60 per kg in the open market.

There are strong allegations that some of the officials in marketing department are diverting the subsidised red onions to black market, hotels and restaurants due to lack of checks by top officials and that they are not maintaining the details of the sales and customers.

As many as 102 tonnes and 80 kg red onions have been allotted to Adilabad district so far from August 5 of which 82 tonnes and 86 kg have been sold till now. Assistant director of marketing T. Srinivas said the state government is bearing nearly Rs 29 on each kg of red onions and added that two or more members of the same family are taking subsidised onions with their individual Aadhaar cards and opined that it would be good if ration card is made as identity proof to check this.