Government lifts ban on export of onions

The onion traders lobby has forced the Central Government to lift the ban on exporting onions. The Group of Ministers on Food met in New Delhi on Thursday and decided to lift the ban on onion exports. The rate of exporting onions has been fixed at $600 per tonne.

Skyrocketing prices of onions over the past few months had forced the Government to ban its export. The Government had on December 20 decided to suspend onion exports. Agriculture cooperative major National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED), which along with 12 other agencies regulates onion exports, had been asked to stop giving fresh clearance to exporters. Onion prices had soared to over Rs 60-70 per kg in the retail markets across the country.