New Delhi (NVI): With the increasing onion price and the shortfall in supply due to unseasonal weather conditions, the government on November 5 decided to facilitate the import of onions from Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey and Iran.
The government has also decided to liberalise fumigation norms to import onions which otherwise is costly for importers.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) through an inter-ministerial committee while reviewing the prices and availability of onions directed National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) to supply the maximum possible quantities to Delhi government, Mother Dairy and Safal for retailing.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has also informed that the federation team will visit Nashik to take stock of the situation and to facilitate the movement of supplies from Maharashtra to consuming regions including Delhi and adjoining regions.
During the meeting, Delhi Government was advised to hold a meeting with traders of Karnataka and Rajasthan, to encourage them to pick up available supplies in the region. They may also discourage traders from profiteering and speculative pricing, the official statement added.
The inter-ministerial committee meeting chaired by the Secretary of Consumer Affairs Department, Avinash K Srivastava said that they will send two teams to Karnataka and Rajasthan to take stock of their onion supplies and encourage the supplies to consuming regions including Delhi-NCR.
However, the Rajasthan government has already assured quick movement of onion stock post harvesting to augment supplies. The harvesting has already commenced in some areas.
During the meeting, it was also informed by the officials that supply disruptions are mainly due to rain and two cyclones and it is expected to improve in the coming days.
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