NAFED recommends to further hike MEP of onions to $900 a tonne

19 Sep 2013 Evaluate

NAFED has recommended the government to further hike the minimum export price (MEP) of onion to $900 a tonne. The apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India has given this suggestion in order to control onion prices that have risen as high as Rs 70-80 per kg in most places.

The government last month had re-imposed MEP on onion at $650 a tonne to curb shipments and control rising prices. The shipments of onion in August had come down substantially to 29,000 tonnes due to fixing of export floor price. In order to improve supplies the government has taken several measures including imports. It is keeping a close watch on price situation and the state governments has been directed by the Centre to crackdown on hoarders and speculators who are keeping onion prices artificially high.

NAFED has meanwhile floated global tenders to import onions but has not taken a decision yet due to phytosanitary issues. Some private traders have imported onions and they are being sold in the domestic market. The country is facing short supply of onion as much of the stored onions of last year’s crop are exhausted and new crop from South India is yet to arrive in huge quantities in the consuming states.

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