Nashik - The Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) of Lasalgaon in Nashik, which is Asia's largest onion market, has stopped the trading of the bulb indefinitely to protest against the Centre's imposition of 40 percent export duty on the kitchen staple.

Along with the market based in Lasalgaon, other APMCs in Nashik district have also boycotted the sale of onion.

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the farmers' body linked to the Communist Party of India, has appealed to all APMCs across Maharashtra to halt the trading of onions. "Not only in Nashik, but across Maharashtra, farmers will come out to protest against the government's move to impose export duty on onions," AIKS general secretary Ajit Nawale said.

"The central government has continuously adopted anti-farmer policies. First, by facilitating the import of tomatoes and milk products, and now by placing export duty on onions, the government has damaged the interests of farmers. To protest against this, farmers across Maharashtra will boycott the sale of onions at the APMCs. Kisan Sabha will support their agitation," Nawale added.

The move to impose the export duty was announced on August 19, amid a surge in the onion prices across the country. The maximum price for onion crossed Rs 67 per kilogram, as per the Department of Consumer Affairs. The modal price across India remains Rs 31 per kilogram, which is higher as against the modal price of Rs 27.34 a month back and Rs 24 a year ago.