As Centre eases onion procurement norms, farmers seek Rs 3000 per quintal support price

Business To Business, Nashik, 7^th June, 2026:   Farmers in Maharashtra have welcomed the central government's decision to relax norms for onion procurement, as it could make it easier for more produce to be purchased by government agencies.
However, farmer groups say the measure alone will not provide significant relief because the procurement price remains too low.
Government agencies such as National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India are reportedly procuring onions at around ₹1,580 per quintal.
Farmers argue that this price is insufficient to cover cultivation, harvesting, storage, and transportation costs.
They have demanded that the government fix a minimum procurement price of ₹3,000 per quintal, nearly double the current procurement rate.
According to farmer representatives, market expectations were higher, and the present procurement price does not adequately compensate growers facing rising input costs.
Key Concern
The core issue is not the procurement process itself but the price being offered. Farmers contend that unless procurement rates are increased substantially, the relaxed procurement norms will have only a limited impact on improving their incomes and addressing financial stress in the onion-growing sector.