New Delhi: Ban on export of onion will continue till the previously announced deadline. 31st March In form of Government Wants to keep prices under control and ensure domestic availabilityA top executive Said on Tuesday. On December 8, 2023, the government had banned the export of onion till March 31.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said, “The ban on onion exports has not been lifted. It is in force and there is no change in the situation.”
He said that the top priority of the government is to ensure adequate domestic availability of onion at reasonable prices to the consumers.
Model bulk onion prices rose 40.62 per cent to Rs 1,800 per quintal on February 19 from Rs 1,280 per quintal on February 17 at Lasalgaon, the country’s largest wholesale onion market, on reports of removal of export ban on the commodity.
Sources said the ban is unlikely to be lifted even after March 31, ahead of the general elections, as Rabi (winter) onion production is expected to be low due to low coverage, especially in Maharashtra.
Onion production in the 2023 Rabi season was estimated at 22.7 million tonnes.
Agriculture Ministry officials will assess Rabi onion coverage in major producing states Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat in the coming days.
Meanwhile, export of onion to friendly countries has been allowed on a case-to-case basis after approval from the inter-ministerial group.