Maharashtra’s Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane faced an unusual protest on Monday when a farmer draped a garland made of onions around his neck during a religious event in Chirai village. The incident took place while Rane was speaking at a program organized for the Paduka Darshan of Sant Nivruttinath Maharaj. The farmer, an onion producer, attempted to speak into the microphone but was quickly detained by the police.

The protest stems from the growing frustration among farmers in the region due to a sharp drop in onion prices, which have fallen by Rs 2,000 per quintal over the past 10 days. The farmers blame the 20 percent export duty on onions, arguing that it has failed to stabilize prices, exacerbating their financial strain.

Earlier, on December 19, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar urged the BJP-led central government to remove the 20 percent export duty to ease the burdens on farmers struggling with falling prices. In a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Pawar expressed concern over the plight of onion farmers in Nashik, a major onion-growing region. He highlighted how the arrival of new crops has led to a surplus in agricultural markets, causing prices to plummet, with farmers now selling their produce for as low as Rs 2,400 per quintal.

Pawar also noted that unseasonal rains and the impact of climate change had already caused significant losses to onion growers. As he continues to attend the Winter Session of the state legislature in Nagpur, Pawar stressed the urgency of addressing the economic hardships faced by farmers.

The imposition of the export duty earlier this year, aimed at stabilizing domestic onion prices, has been widely criticized by both farmers and political leaders in Maharashtra.