Centre To Import 11,000 Tonnes Of Onions From Turkey Amid Soaring Prices

Government has decided to import 11000 metric tonnes of onions and has issued directions to the state-owned trading firm MMTC regarding this.

Soaring onion prices continue beleaguering consumers. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: With an aim to boost supply of onions in the market, in order to provide relief to residents from escalating onion prices, government has decided to import the edible bulbs from Turkey. The government will import 11000 Metric Ton (MT) of onion from Turkey in addition to 6090 MT from Egypt, The decision comes at a time when the residents remain beleaguered with the soaring prices of onions, which are selling at prices as high as Rs 100 per kilogram.

The bulbs were selling at Rs 76 per kilogram in Delhi, while at Rs 82 per kilogram in Mumbai, as per official records. The prime reason responsible for the upshot in the prices has been the shortage in the supply of onions.

The average selling price ruled at Rs 75 per kg on Saturday (November 30) while the maximum rate of Rs 120 per kg was recorded in Mayabunder, according to the data compiled by the Consumer Affairs ministry. Government has decided to import 11000 metric tonnes of onions  and has issued directions to the state-owned trading firm MMTC regarding this. MMTC is importing onion on the behalf of the Centre and has even placed an order of 11,000 tonnes of edible bulb from Turkey as part of its efforts to boost domestic supply and ease soaring prices, agencies reported. This is the second import order placed by the MMTC. The public sector firm is already importing 6,090 tonnes from Egypt. Last month, the Union Cabinet approved importing 1.2 lakh tonnes of onion to improve the domestic supply and control prices that have skyrocketed to Rs 75-120 per kg across major cities now. The Centre has already banned exports and imposed stockholding limit on wholesalers and retailers for indefinite period. According to sources, MMTC has contracted 11,000 tonnes of onion imports from Turkey and the consignments are expected in January next year. The company had placed an order for the first consignment of 6,090 tonnes of onion from Egypt which will be arriving at Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mumbai in the second week of this month. The imported onion is being offered to state governments for distribution at the rate of Rs 52-55 per kg ex-Mumbai and Rs 60 per kg ex-Delhi. To monitor onion prices, a Group of Ministers, chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, has already been constituted. Finance minister, consumer affairs minister, agriculture minister and road transport minister are also members of this panel. A Committee of Secretaries (CoS) and Consumer Affairs Secretary Avinash K Srivastava is also constantly reviewing the situation. (with inputs from PTI)