Centre has asked Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTC) to import 10,000 tonnes of onion at the earliest and directed the co-operative NAFED to cancel its tender. This step has been taken on concerns over spiraling retail onion prices that have hit Rs 80 per kg in the national capital. This initiative would boost domestic supply and check a further spike in prices.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) had on July 23 floated a normal tender, due to which it did not receive a single response from the global suppliers. It had re-invited the tender last week which has been directed by the government to cancel it. MMTC has experience in issuing e-tenders and it would be able to contract onions from overseas markets like Pakistan, Egypt and China.
Meanwhile, Punjab traders have started importing onions in small quantities from Afghanistan through the Attari-Wagah land route.