Informist, Saturday, Apr 27, 2024

NEW DELHI – The Indian government has allowed export of 99,150 tn of onion to Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bahrain, Mauritius and Sri Lanka through National Cooperative Exports Ltd, the consumer affairs, food & public distribution ministry said in a release today. This comes against the backdrop of estimated lower kharif and rabi crops in 2023-24 compared to previous years and increased demand in the international market, the ministry said.

In December, the government had halted the export of onions until Mar 31 in a bid to maintain adequate availability in the domestic markets and keep a lid on prices. On Mar 22, the ban was extended for an indefinite period. As per the release, National Cooperative Exports will source the onions from domestic producers through an e-platform at competitive prices. Maharashtra, being the largest onion producer in the country, will be a major supplier.

This is not the first time that the government has allowed onion exports to these six countries, at a time when there is an export restriction. It had allowed onion exports of 10,000 tn to Sri Lanka and the UAE each on Apr 16. Prior to that, the government had allowed the export of 24,400 tn onion to the UAE. On Mar 4, exports of 50,000 tn to Bangladesh were permitted. On Mar 7, it allowed 550 tn export to Bhutan, 3,000 tn to Bahrain, and 1,200 tn to Mauritius through National Cooperative Exports.

Furthermore, the government has allowed export of 2,000 tn of white onion to West Asian and some European countries, the release said. The average retail price of onion was 31.44 rupees per kg as of Friday, up 40.7% from a year ago. But on a month-on-month basis, it was down 3.4%.

In the release, the ministry said that this year, the procurement target for onion buffer from the rabi-2024 crop under the Price Stabilisation Fund of the Department of Consumer Affairs has been set at 500,000 tn. The department also decided to increase the quantum of stocks to be irradiated and cold stored to 5,000 tn this year from 1,200 tn last year. End

Reported by Priyasmita Dutta

Edited by Ashish Shirke

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