The central government has decided to relax the import norms for onions till December 15 to facilitate the early shipment and directed to use the buffer stock for increasing the supplies. The Union Consumer Affair Ministry said in a statement that the step will offload more onion from its buffer stock in the open market to limit price hike. They also said estimated Karif crop of Rs 37 lakh tonne will be available in Mandis to reprive the rising prices.
“An undertaking will be obtained from the importers that the onion will be used only for consumption and not for propagation,” the ministry said.
While the rate at which retail prices increased had been “moderated to some extent”, recent incidents of heavy rainfall in onion growing districts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh had “caused damage to standing Kharif crop, stored onion and seed nurseries,” the ministry said.
“These developments on the weather front have resulted in sharp increase in onion prices,” it added.
The retail price of onion has also increased since the end of August this year. The Indian High Commissions have been instructed in the relevant countries to contact the traders for greater onion imports.
