Onion Farmers to Maharashtra Government: Treat Us Like Traffic Jams
An association of onion growers has urged the Maharashtra government to respond with the same urgency to farmers affected by heavy rains as it does to disruptions like the recent landslip on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Maharashtra State Onion Growers' Association president Bharat Dighole said on Saturday that while inconvenience to commuters during heavy rainfall receives immediate attention, the financial losses suffered by farmers due to natural calamities and falling crop prices are rarely met with equal concern.
'When traffic comes to a standstill in cities for a few hours, the entire State's attention is drawn to it. But when excessive rains, hailstorms, unseasonal showers, floods or drought destroy farmers' crops, the same amount of concern is rarely seen,' Mr. Dighole said in a statement.
He noted that farmers battle crop diseases, erratic weather, price crashes and transport bottlenecks, often suffering losses of lakhs of rupees in a single day, yet continue farming with resilience.
Describing the traffic disruption due to the landslip on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as a temporary problem arising from heavy rains, Mr. Dighole said such incidents can occur during major infrastructure projects or natural disasters.
'Rather than politicising such incidents, there should be a constructive discussion on how to minimise such occurrences in future, strengthen emergency response systems and reduce inconvenience to citizens,' he said.
Mr. Dighole further said investments in expressways, roads, bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure ultimately benefit the public, including farmers, by improving connectivity and reducing transportation time and costs.
'Efficient transport infrastructure is crucial for perishable farm produce such as onions, vegetables and fruits, as timely access to markets helps preserve quality and improves the possibility of better returns for farmers,' he said.
Mr. Dighole clarified that the association is not aligned with any political party and would continue to support measures that promote farmers' welfare.
'Cities and villages are equally important for Maharashtra's development. Along with the inconvenience faced by urban residents, farmers' suffering also deserves an equally sincere hearing,' he added.
