Imported onion center at the ports is Rs. Ready to sell for 22-23 kg

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. January 31, 2020, Friday

The central government can sell imported onions at the ports at a very cheap rate ie 22-23 rupees per kg. This is about 60 percent lower than the current market price of onions.

Not long ago, onion prices in the country had crossed Rs 200 a kg and there was a need to import onions from abroad. Now, imported onions are decaying at ports.

Due to this, the central government has decided to sell imported onions at cheaper rates, ie about 60% less than the current market prices, at Rs 22-23 per kg. The central government is currently providing onion to the state governments at the rate of 58 rupees per kg and is also incurring transportation costs.

In view of onion prices, the government had decided to import 1.2 lakh tonnes of onion through MMTC in November. The MMTC has imported 14,000 tonnes of onion from foreign markets and a large batch of imported onion is decaying at ports including Maharashtra.

Due to the new onion crop coming into the market, its retail prices have been relaxed, which is why many states have refused to buy imported onions at high rates. Even though the taste of imported onion is different from that of domestic onion, the state governments are canceling its contract.

In view of the slowdown in demand for imported onions, the MMTC has so far procured only 14,000 tonnes of onion but has contracted to import 40,000 tonnes of onion. Since a large batch of imported onion is falling at the ports, NAFED, Mother Dairy and willing state governments can buy imported onion from Rs 22-23 per kg for distribution to mandis.

Farmers will not benefit from high onion prices and empty their pockets

New delhi date. 31

When onion prices crossed the Rs 200-kg mark in the country just a few months ago, the central government imported onions from Egypt at a cost of crores of rupees to keep prices under control. During these months, onion farmers did not receive any price increase and the collectors made millions.

Now that millions of tonnes of onion goods are coming from abroad and lying in the ports of the country, the government has agreed to sell at a very cheap price, ie 22 to 23 rupees per kg. Farmers are not benefiting from such measures of the government when pockets of consumers are emptying and greenery is poured out to the consumers and collectors.