Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The retail price of onion has shown marked increase from end of August 2020, though the price level was below that of last year till October 18. A sharp spike in prices of onion in past 10 days by Rs 11.56 per kilo has taken the all-India retail price of onion to Rs 51.95 per kilo which was 12.13% higher than the last year’s price of Rs 46.33 per kg.
The government on September 14, 2020, took a pre-emptive measure by announcing a ban on onion export to ensure availability to domestic consumers at reasonable rates during the lean season before the Kharif onion arrival. While the rate at which retail prices increase had been moderated to some extent, recent instances of heavy rain fall in the major growing districts of Maharashtra, Karntaka, and Madhya Pradesh had caused damage to standing Kharif crop, stored onion and seed nurseries. These developments on the weather front have resulted in sharp increase in onion prices.
The government has built up onion buffer stock from the Rabi onion – 2020. In order to moderate prices, onion from the buffer stock is being released in calibrated manner from second half of September, 2020, to major mandis, to retail supplier such as Safal, Kendriya Bhandar & NCCF and also to State Governments. More will be done in the coming days.
To facilitate the import of onion, the government on October 21, 2020, relaxed the conditions for fumigation and additional declaration on Phytosanitary Certificate under the Plant Quarantine (PO) Order, 2003, for import up to December 15, 2020. The Indian High Commissions have been instructed in the relevant countries to contact the traders for pushing for greater imports of onions to the country. Such consignments of imported onions, which arrive in Indian port without fumigation and endorsement to that effect on the PSC, would be fumigated in India by the importer through an accredited treatment provider, according to a PIB release.
If Stem and Bulbs nematode (Ditylenchus Dipsaci) or onion maggot (Hylimia antiqua) is detected it would be eliminated through fumigation and the consignments will be released with no additional inspection fee. An undertaking will be obtained from the importers that the onion will be used only for consumption and not for propagation. Such consignments of onions for consumption will not be subjected to four times additional inspection fee on account of non-compliance of conditions of import under the PQ order, 2003. An estimated Kharif Crop of 37 LMT is also likely to start arriving in the Mandis.