Export ban on onion lifted – ..

Mumbai: Keeping in mind the demand of the farmers of the country, the government has lifted the ban on export of onion. However, the minimum export price of onion has been fixed at $550 per tonne. Earlier on Friday, the government had also announced imposition of 40 percent duty on onion export. Import duty on desi gram has been abolished.

Onion exporters, especially onion exporters and farmers of Maharashtra, are expected to benefit greatly from this decision of the government. However, there was disappointment among exporters with the imposition of 40% export duty. A trader claimed that due to this duty, Indian onion will not be able to remain competitive in the world market.

This decision of the government is being considered quite indicative because Lok Sabha elections are going on at present. To prevent onion prices from increasing during the Lok Sabha elections, the government had banned the export of onions last year.

Onion production in the country is estimated to be 254.73 lakh tonnes in the season of 2023-24, which was 302.08 lakh tonnes in the last season.

India is the largest exporter of onion. This decision of the government has come in view of the demand of traders to remove the ban on free export due to the fall in the overall prices of onion. In the last financial year, India had exported 25 lakh tonnes of onion.

Onion export was allowed on the request of governments of other countries during the export ban.

Onion always remains at the center during elections in the political arena of the country, especially in the politics of Maharashtra. A large number of farmers and traders are involved in onion business in Maharashtra.

Keeping in mind the production situation of agricultural people, the government is continuously making changes in its import-export. Meanwhile, taking another decision, the government has exempted domestic gram from import duty till March 2025. 60 percent duty was imposed on gram.

Apart from this, yellow peas have also been exempted from import duty. The price of gram in the major markets of the country has reached around Rs 6300 per quintal. India imports its desi or Bengal gram mainly from countries like Australia and Tanzania. Import duty has been exempted as part of keeping prices under control by increasing domestic supply.