From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 30: With a large number of onion growers in Karnataka in a distress situation following the sharp crash in the prices of onions in the state’s local markets, the Congress party has urged the State Government to take an immediate decision to implement a market intervention scheme to rescue the growers by fixing a support price of Rs 2,000 per quintal for procurement of the commodity from the open market.

The onion growers can be rescued only if the State Government announces the market intervention scheme and starts procurement from the open market immediately to stabilize the falling prices, Congress opposition leader in the State Assembly Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the news conference in Bangalore on Wednesday, the Congress leader said the prices of onion crashed to Rs 400 per quintal in Hubli, Dharwad, Chitradurga, Davanagere and other markets in north Karnataka districts.

He wanted the State Government to immediately start procurement of onions to arrest the crisis faced by the farmeRs

Good crop in Maharashtra led to a sharp decline in the prices of onion, he said pointing out that farmers sold onions at Rs 2,000 per quintal last year. The onion growers in the State, who were already forced to suffer due to erratic monsoon, were in a difficult position after the sharp crash in prices in the open market, Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah claimed that the StateGovernment has not consulted the Opposition on finding a new candidate to the office of the Karnataka Lokayukta after the rejection of the recommendation by the State Government for appointment of the former chief justice of Kerala High Court Justice S R Bannurmath.