Government Orders over 36,000 Metric Tonnes of Onions to End Ongoing Crisis; Imports at 5-year High

To tackle the ongoing crisis of onions across the nation, the central government has taken a major decision to approve the import of 36,090 metric tonnes of onions from foreign countries amid the ongoing supply crunch. 

As per reports, around 21,090 metric tonnes of onions are contracted including 6,090 metric tonnes from Egypt and 15,000 metric tonnes from Turkey. On the other hand, the government will issue tenders for 15,000 metric tonnes of onions.  The report says that the country had last imported 1,987 tonnes of onion in the Financial Year of 2016, which happens to be the only year India imported onions in the last five years.

As per reports, state-run trading firm MMTC (Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India), which is importing onions on the behalf of the government, has already floated a tender for buying 21,090 metric tonnes (MT) of the key kitchen staple from Turkey and Egypt and the shipments are expected to arrive mid-January.

Moreover, MMTC has contracted 4,000 MT of onions from Turkey which is expected to arrive by mid-January, 2020. This 4,000 MT is in addition to the 17,090 MT of onions already contracted which includes 6,090 MT arriving from Egypt and 11,000 MT from Turkey. While the delivery from Egypt is expected in the second week of this month, the import from Turkey is expected in the last week of December.

The union cabinet had given its nod on November 20, to import up to 1.2 lakh metric tonnes of onions after onion prices in India touched a high of over Rs 100 per kg and reached 200 per kg in some parts of the country.

As per reports, retail onion prices have touched above Rs 150/kg in some cities across India. The onion was sold at Rs 165/kg in Panaji (Goa), Rs 160/kg in Mayabunder (Andaman) and Rs 150/kg in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode on Friday.