Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on November 6, 2019, reviewed the prices and availability of Onions across the nation with Secretary Consumer Affairs Avinash K Srivastava, Secretary Food, Ravi Kant along with other senior officials of the Ministry for over two hours.
During the meeting several steps taken by the Government to curb price rise and reasons for the increase in prices were discussed. It was informed that due to the delay in arrival of monsoon the sowing was delayed which had a cascading effect on arrival in the mandis. Also, untimely rains and the two cyclones had an impact on the overall production and also hindered the transportation of Onions especially from Maharashtra.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Paswan said that the Union Government is taking all possible steps to curb price rise including creating a buffer stock of 56,700 tons of Onions of which 1,525 tons are available with NAFED at present, banning export of Onions to retain stock for domestic consumption, and putting stock holding limit of 10 MT for retailers and 50 MT for wholesalers to ensure a constant and healthy supply in the market.
Enumerating the reasons for spurt in prices, Paswan said that all steps were taken but there is a 30-40% reduction in production on Onions and the supply has been disrupted due to rains. The arrival in Delhi Mandi is up to 25% lesser than those in the same months of previous years, he said, according to a PIB release.
Talking about the key decisions taken to further augment supplies, Paswan said that the Union Government will act as a facilitator for import of Onion. Phytosanitary and fumigation requirement have been suitably liberalised by Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate imports up to November 30, 2019, subject to certain conditions. This will facilitate immediate import of Onions without compromising with the safety and quality. Along with that Indian missions in Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey and Iran are being requested to facilitate supply of Onions to India. Commerce Ministry has also been asked to see the feasibility of banning export of dehydrated Onions which can then be used for domestic consumption.