Bengaluru: The state government fixed a support price of Rs 6.24 per kg for onions to aid distressed farmers. The slump in the prices of onions led to crisis which forced the state to take up market intervention measures.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said the purchase of onions will commence from November 2 through the market federation. “We have decided to purchase around 23 lakh tonnes of onions. The central government will purchase 1 lakh tonnes. The state will continue to do so until the prices stabilise,” he said. The government has already released Rs 50 crore to buy onions at the support price.
Further speaking Jayachandra informed that Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimappa had personally submitted the memorandum and sought Rs 3,373.85 crore from the Centre as drought relief. Jayachandra also said there was a possibility that another 30-35 taluks would be added to the existing 110 taluks that have been declared as drought-hit.
A team of officials from the Union Agriculture and Revenue ministries, headed by their respective joint secretaries will assess impact of drought on crops. The team will visit Karnataka on November 2.
