Overview
- - The Centre, which launched purchases Friday through NAFED and NCCF, set a 200,000‑tonne target at Rs 12.35 per kg to steady a market in free fall.
- - Farmer groups said the rate does not cover inputs like seeds, fertiliser, labour and transport, pressing for higher support near Rs 3,000 per quintal plus compensation.
- - Wholesale prices have plunged in parts of Maharashtra to 50 paise to Re 1 per kg, prompting crop dumping and street protests in districts such as Nashik and Ahmednagar.
- - Traders and market officials linked the crash to weak orders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Gulf buyers, along with shipping disruptions tied to the West Asia conflict.
- - The new target is about one‑third lower than last year’s procurement, and the buy will feed the government’s onion buffer under the Price Stability Fund to manage future swings.