India has exported over 45,000 tonnes of onions since the export ban was lifted earlier this month, a senior government official said on Wednesday. These exports came as a relief to farmers after restrictions were imposed ahead of the general elections to maintain domestic supplies. The world’s largest vegetable exporter had banned exports of the onion last December and extended the ban in March after prices rose due to sluggish production. “More than 45,000 tonnes of onions have been exported since the ban was lifted, mainly to the Middle East and Bangladesh,” Nidhi Khare, secretary in the consumer affairs ministry, told PTI.
To keep onion prices affordable during the election period, the government lifted the ban on May 4 but fixed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne. Khare said the prediction of a good monsoon this year will ensure better sowing of kharif (summer) crops, including onions, from June onwards.
State agencies have started procurement of onions from the recent rabi (winter) crop to create a buffer stock of 5,00,000 tonnes for the current year, she added. According to initial estimates by the agriculture ministry, the country’s onion production in the 2023-24 crop year will decline by 16 percent from the previous year to 25.47 million tonnes, due to lower production in key growing regions such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Besides, the Union government plans to significantly increase irradiation of onions this fiscal to extend the shelf life of its buffer stocks, a senior official said. This low, regulated dose of radiation, which poses no health risk, prevents the onions from sprouting and makes them less perishable.
“Last year, only 1,200 tonnes of onions were irradiated. This time, we want to increase irradiation to one lakh tonne,” said Nidhi Khare. She said the government aims to procure a total of 5 lakh tonnes of onions in 2024-25 to build a buffer stock, compared to 6.46 lakh tonnes in the last fiscal.
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