Centre’s onion relief in Maharashtra gets mixed reviews.

• The Centre’s decision to reduce onion export duty from 40% to 20% and remove the ₹550 per tonne minimum export price has sparked mixed reactions in Maharashtra.
• The state, the country’s largest onion producer, hosts Asia’s largest wholesale market in Lasalgaon.
• The onion MEP clause in December 2023 and subsequent high export duty caused unrest among farmers.
• Narendra Savliram, secretary of the Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committe, stated that the policy change will benefit those with onion stocks.
• Jaydatta Holkar, director of the market committees of Lasalgaon and Mumbai, expressed skepticism about the timing of the decision, arguing that only big traders or farmers with large holding capacity will benefit.