Patna. There is a relief news for the onion producing farmers of Bihar. Due to low market prices at the time of harvest, farmers are forced to sell onions at low prices. To reduce this problem, the government has started a scheme to provide 50 to 75 percent subsidy on construction of onion storage houses.
The advantage of this will be that farmers will be able to preserve the crop for some time instead of selling it immediately. If market prices improve, there will be a chance to earn more income by selling onions.
Storage of 25 and 50 metric tons will be built.
Under the government scheme, onion storage houses with capacity of 25 metric tons and 50 metric tons can be built for the farmers. These storage houses will have to be constructed as per the prescribed scientific standards, so that the onions can be protected from spoilage for a long time.
Adequate ventilation and protection from moisture will be necessary in the storage room. Also, good quality and completely dry onions have to be selected before storing.
There will be less pressure to sell at lower prices
If onion prices fall, farmers will have less need to sell their produce immediately. They will be able to decide the timing of sale according to the market condition. This will increase the chances of getting better prices and may improve the income of farmers.
To avail the benefits of the scheme, farmers will have to apply online as per the prescribed procedure. Information related to applications and grants will be made available on the official portal of the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture.