Traders seek permission to import 2,500 tonnes of onion

Traders and importers have sought permission from NAFED to bring in about 2,500 tonnes of onions from China, Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

However, officials said the actual imports could be only around 1,000 tonnes through different ports over the next couple of weeks.

Worried over the rising trend in onion prices across the country, the Government had allowed the import by relaxing some norms relating to the fumigation for a faster clearance.

An estimated 300 tonnes of imported onion havealready entered the domestic markets in the recent weeks, while about 600 tonnes are expected in the next two weeks.

“Traders have taken permits to import about 2,500 tonnes. But how much of that will actually come into the country is not known as domestic arrivals are beginning to increase and may force the importers to go slow,” sources said.

The harvest in Nashik, the country’s main onion growing region, is set to commence early next month.

With pick-up in arrivals in markets such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai, onion prices have eased marginally in the past week.

But in major consuming markets such as Delhi and Mumbai, the average or modal price still hovered over Rs 40 a kg at the wholesale level.

In Delhi, the average wholesale price was Rs 45, while at the retail level, onion continues to sell at over Rs 60.

“Prices will ease in the next couple of weeks on increase in arrivals and imports” said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Speaking to reporters, Pawar said the demand for onion is going up despite the near doubling of production in the last eight years.

Onion production has increased to 17.4 million tonnes in 2012-13 from 9.5 mt in 2005-06, Pawar said adding that a lot of area was coming under onion in the current year.

vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in

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