According to a senior government official, private traders have placed orders to import onions and at least 1,000 tons are expected by month end. The retail prices of onion have hovering between ₹60 and ₹100/kg since past two months, and the government's various interventions helped it to cool down a bit, but the rates are still ruling high at over ₹50/kg in Delhi and other consuming areas.
Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, was quoted as saying that onion output in kharif, late-kharif seasons of 2019-20 could fall 26% from the same season a year ago to 5.2 million tons. The shipments should be smooth as the government has liberalised phytosanitary and fumigation norms for import of onion till December-end, the official added.
The government has banned onion exports and imposed stock limits to boost domestic supply and check prices.
The government has facilitated onion imports through private as well as public trading agencies to improve supplies and calm the price spike. It decided to import 100,000 tons of onion through state-run MMTC, which has already invited bids for the import of 4,000 tons.
