Bids were approved yesterday for a global tender for onions floated by the state-run MMTC, paving the way for the import of 1,000 tonnes of onions from Pakistan and China.
As the bids received were only for a tenth of the overall tender amount, the government has decided to float a fresh tender of 10,000 tonnes. “We will keep on floating tenders to import onions till the time the targeted 10,000 tonnes is reached,” said Additional Agriculture Secretary Avinash K Srivastava.
The commodity, to be sourced at Rs 45 a kg, would start arriving from September 10.
MMTC, which last week floated a tender for 10,000 tonnes of onion import, received only one bid from a Singapore-based company, for 1,000 tonnes. The approved bidder has been asked to source onions from Egypt, China, Pakistan, as well as various other countries. The imported onions would be supplied to state governments, after ascertaining their requirements.
India to import 1,000 tonne onions from Pakistan, China
The government has approved the tender for 1,000 tonnes of onions at a time when wholesale prices at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia’s largest onion market, have declined through the past two days to Rs 48 a kg, owing to improved supplies. This followed several measures by the government, including curbs on export.
It is believed the supply of imported onions would boost supply and help bring down retail prices further. As of now, the prices are ruling at about Rs 80 a kg across the country
