PUNE: As onion prices are expected to remain firm till Diwali, traders have started placing import orders, while central government has announced to make onions available for less than Rs 24/kg to the consumers by supply it to the states at Rs 15.58/kg.
Mumbai based onion exporter Ajit Shah said that onion can be imported from Dubai in 10 days provided government relaxes phytosanitary norms. "If government insists on importing from original source of the commodity, here Egypt, it will take many weeks to receive shipments. However, importing Egypt origin onion from Dubai is possible in just 10 days," said Shah.
The wholesale prices at Lasalgaon APMC in Nashik declined slightly this week and stabilised around Rs 40/kg. Delay in arrival of fresh kharif crop due to combined effect of drought and excess rainfall has created inflationary sentiments in onion trade.
Farmers are angered by efforts of the government to put pressure on traders about rising prices. "We have to realise that having suffered losses or received marginal profits till now, getting good prices can help improve average income of the growers," said Jayadatta Holkar, chairman, Lasalgaon APMC.
Meanwhile, central government has decided to provide onion to state's at Rs 15.59/kg; caps state's selling price at Rs 23.90/kg.
Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan tweeted: "Delhi govt has requested for 100 metric tonnes onion per day between September 28 to November 5. We will provide required quantity of onion to Delhi. Centre is ready to provide onion to all states as per their requirement Rs 15.59/kg."
Paswan in his tweet said that the Centre has adequate stock of onion and asked state govts to take as much onion they want. "So far we have released 1850 tonnes to Tripura, 2000 tonnes to Haryana and Andhra Pradesh governments at the rate Rs of 15.59/kg. States will provide it to public at maximum Rs 23.90/kg," he said.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com