New Delhi, January 30 (PTI): To prevent a repeat of last month situation when exorbitant onion prices troubled the common man, the government on Sunday said it is open to importing more of this vegetable to ensure better supply to masses. “I have kept my import window open. I do not know what will happen tomorrow, I do not know what will happen day after,” Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar told PTI.
He was replying to a query if the government would consider lifting the ban on onion export and stop importing through public sector firms — STC and PEC — as price of the vegetable has started coming down. The onion prices have come down to about Rs. 35—40 a kg in the national capital. Its prices rocketed to as high as Rs. 70—85 per in December 20. Cooperatives like NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar and Mother Dairy are selling onion at Rs 24 per kg in the national capital.
The downward price trend in onion is attributed to softening of the vegetable rate in the open market. The Centre had last month abolished import duties on onion and banned its exports for indefinite period to improve its supply in the domestic market. Acute scarcity of onions after unseasonal rains hit the Kharif crop in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the States that together account for almost 50 percent of the country’s total production, leading to an escalation in its wholesale and retail prices.
He was replying to a query if the government would consider lifting the ban on onion export and stop importing through public sector firms — STC and PEC — as price of the vegetable has started coming down. The onion prices have come down to about Rs. 35—40 a kg in the national capital. Its prices rocketed to as high as Rs. 70—85 per in December 20. Cooperatives like NCCF, Kendriya Bhandar and Mother Dairy are selling onion at Rs 24 per kg in the national capital.
The downward price trend in onion is attributed to softening of the vegetable rate in the open market. The Centre had last month abolished import duties on onion and banned its exports for indefinite period to improve its supply in the domestic market. Acute scarcity of onions after unseasonal rains hit the Kharif crop in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the States that together account for almost 50 percent of the country’s total production, leading to an escalation in its wholesale and retail prices.
