Pune: Onion Prices Fall By Rs 20, Sharad Pawar To Meet Farmers In Nashik Today

Pune, October 28, 2020: With the banning of onion export, restrictions imposed on storage of onion and government’s decision to import onion has helped in reducing the price of onions. The retail prices of onions had reduced by Rs 20 to 22 in just a few days. The price of onion has been reduced from Rs 85 to Rs 60. Import of onions indicates that price may fall more which will surely give relief to customers.

“On Tuesday 35-40 trucks of old onions and five trucks of new onions arrived in the market yard. New onions are coming from Shrigonda area of Ahmednagar district. The price of old onion was Rs 85 last week, which has now decreased by Rs 20-22. in the last few days. The price of a new onion which has arrived is between Rs 300 and Rs 350. After the decision of the central government to import onion from Iran has also helped in stabilising the increasing rates of onions,” said Ritesh Poman, a trader of onion.

Adding to it Ritesh said, “the onion which will be imported from Iran will reach the country’s market committees in the next 15 days. The onion has reached Mumbai and will reach Pune market committee within 8 days. Earlier onions were imported from Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Due to the import of onion the prices of onion will be reduced this year.”

“About 30 per cent of the local onions are of high quality which will cost up to Rs 600. The remaining 70 per cent of onions are of low quality so it will cost low. The low quality of onion is purchased by the small and big hoteliers, handcarts and stallholders. The good quality of onions are in demand from foreign countries,” traders said.

As the restrictions are imposed by the government on the storage of onions, the traders seem to be unhappy with this decision.

Sharad Pawar to meet today
Former Union Minister Sharad Pawar has criticised the Union government’s policy of banning and importing onions. On Wednesday (Oct 28) in Nashik, Pawar will decide the next strategy on onion issue after discussing with onion producers. Onion producers are facing difficulties as the central government has imposed an export ban on onions. Excessive rainfall has caused severe damage to onion crops. The Income Tax Department has raided onion producers in Lasalgaon and other places. Against this backdrop, Pawar has criticized the central government’s policy. Pawar said, “The central government’s policy of banning and importing onions is not in the interest of farmers. I will discuss this with onion producers in Nashik on Wednesday.”