New Delhi: The government announced on Saturday that it has permitted the export of 99,500 tonnes of onions, primarily procured from Maharashtra, to six neighboring countries despite the existing ban on such shipments.
Additionally, a quota of 2,000 tonnes of white onions, specifically cultivated for export markets in the Middle East and certain European nations, has also been authorized.
The ban on onion exports was initiated on December 8, 2023, to ensure sufficient availability domestically, considering the anticipated lower Kharif and Rabi crops in 2023-24 compared to the previous year. This move was made amid a surge in international demand for onions.
The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), designated as the exporting agency, facilitated the procurement of domestic onions for export through an e-platform at competitive prices.
The allocated export quota to the six countries is being fulfilled based on requisitions made by each destination nation. Maharashtra, as the leading onion producer in India, serves as the primary source of onions for export via NCEL.
Furthermore, the government has approved the export of 2,000 tonnes of white onions, which incur higher production costs due to factors like elevated seed expenses, adherence to good agricultural practices (GAP), and compliance with stringent maximum residue limits (MRL) requirements.
To bolster onion procurement for buffer stock from the Rabi crop of 2024 under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) of the Department of Consumer Affairs, a procurement target of 5 lakh tonnes has been set for this year. Central agencies are collaborating with local entities to facilitate procurement, storage, and farmer registration.
Efforts have been made to minimize storage losses by increasing the volume of onions to be irradiated and cold-stored, with technical assistance from BARC, Mumbai. Last year’s pilot project on onion irradiation and cold storage yielded positive results, reducing storage losses to less than 10 percent.
In March, the Union Agriculture Ministry released data indicating a decline in onion production for the 2023-24 season compared to the previous year. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan are among the states experiencing reduced output.
Read More :
