Floating of tenders by the National Agriculture Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) for import of onions from Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt has raised heckles in Nashik.
Following the rise in onion prices in retail markets to Rs 50 to Rs 60 a kg, the central government has decided to import onion to bring the prices under control. Accordingly, the NAFED floated a global tender on Wednesday. According to sources, the government is planning to import three lakh tonnes of onions a month.
A veteran onion cultivator associated with the NAFED said, "The decision to import onions is wrong. The import will take at least a month. By the time the imported onions reach the domestic market the kharif crop of onion will also arrive in the market. Hence, there will be no use of importing onions and it will lead to heavy loss to the government."
"There is no adequate stock in Pakistan and importing onion from Pakistan will create political issues as some people may oppose it. The traders had imported onions from Iran in the past, but people did not like it as it tasted different. Onions from China are not fresh and will come from cold storage. It will rot by the time it reaches India," the farmer said.
"There is enough stock in the country that may last till the arrival of the kharif crop. There is at least three lakh tonne stock in Maharashtra. The kharif crop has already started arriving in Andhra Pradesh, while regular arrival in Karnataka is expected by September 15. In Maharashtra, arrival of the next crop is expected by mid-September. In Nashik, the fresh arrival of crop will commence by the first week of October," the cultivator added.
Speaking to TOI, director of the National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF) R P Gupta said, "There are major fluctuations in onion prices. The prices declined on Monday by around Rs 1,000 a quintal but increased by the same rate in the next two days. Actually, there is a stock of eight lakh tonnes of onion in the country. It can't be said how the prices are increasing and whether they are being manipulated. The decision of the government is to bring prices under control. If it costs up to Rs 30-32, then it will be of use."
The president of the Nashik District Onion Traders' Association, Sohanlal Bhandari, said, "Import of onion will be good if we get it at minimum rates. The imported onions will take at least 20 to 25 days to reach the consumers. The fresh kharif crop will also start arriving at the same time. The government took good decision, but it was with much delay. Actually, they should have taken this decision earlier."
Source:- timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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