In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said: “The export of all varieties of onions is prohibited with immediate effect.”
On Monday, the government banned the export of all varieties of onions with immediate effect, a move reportedly targeting an increase in availability and reduction in prices of the commodity in domestic markets.
In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said: “The export of all varieties of onions is prohibited with immediate effect.”
An arm of the commerce ministry, DHFT deals with exports and imports-related matters. The provisions under transitional arrangement shall not be applicable under this notification.
Onion prices are around Rs 40 per kilogram in national capital. In August, the wholesale price inflation for onions stood at (-) 34.48.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat are some of the top onion producing stages.
NCP President Sharad Pawar, responding to the development, said he has discussed the issue with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and urged him to rethink it. “The ban jeopardizes India’s export share in the onion markets of Gulf countries, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” Sharad Pawar said in a tweet, adding that it could allow other countries, such as Pakistan, to displace India.
“The central government has abruptly announced a ban on onion exports. There was a strong reaction in the onion growing belt in Maharashtra and the people’s representatives of various political parties contacted me last night and requested that I inform the central government about their reaction… I urge Piyush Goyalji to rethink this decision of banning export of onion,” the former Union Agriculture Minister said in his tweet.
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