Demonetisation hits onion farmers

-Deccan Herald

Trading stopped indefinitely in Bagalkot market

The scrapping of the notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination by the Central government has severely affected onion traders in the district.

Following a request by the traders, the agriculture produce marketing committee has deferred onion trade for an indefinite period. The traders had requested the APMC to stop trading till the currency situation becomes “normal.”

However, the move has not gone down well with the farmers. They say that they would have to suffer losses in the absence of daily trading.

“Onion is a perishable commodity. It will begin to rot if trading is not resumed. We will not be able to recover our investment,”?Sanganna Bellad, a farmer from Amaravathi said.

Bavanagouda Goudar, another onion grower, said that though they were ready to receive the payment even after 15 days, the merchants were unwilling to begin trading.

Bagalkot is a big onion market. Trading in onion is conducted twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday). Last Saturday, as much as 11,426 quintals of onion was traded in the market.

However, the traders have their own take on the issue. They say that farmers insist for notes of Rs 50 and Rs 100 and they won’t accept cheques too.

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