New Delhi, October 21
Onion prices rose sharply across the country and virtually doubled in Maharashtra as heavy rain destroyed crops in six major onion producing states signalling a crisis-like situation.
Prices in Maharashtra, the major producer of onion crop, reached an eight-year high as heavy rain affected the commodity in the state as well as in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said in Pune that as of now there was no move to import onions despite reports that Maharashtra was considering such a move.
“We have decided against importing onion from any country as it would not be economically viable. Onion shortage will continue in Maharashtra for the next 15 days. We are trying to get onion from Karnataka and Gujarat, apart from other places in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, onion traders said at present not much of the crop is being exported because of spiralling domestic prices even though there was no ban.
They, however, said if the present shortage continued government might have to import onion and the two countries from where onion could be imported are Pakistan and China.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has called for a high-level meeting of state agricultural officials on October 25 to discuss the commodity’s rising prices and its non availability.
— PTI
