Onion import from Pakistan through state agencies next week

New Delhi, Jan 1 (PTI) Onion from Pakistan, contracted by
state-owned agencies, will arrive here by January 7, a move
expected to ease further its prices which had shot up to Rs
70-80 per kg last month.
The first lot of imports contracted by PEC and the State
Trading Corporation "is scheduled to reach Delhi by the end of
next week," an official source said.
PEC and STC are trying to bring at least 1,000 tonnes of
onion from Pakistan, sources said adding that its landed cost
would be about Rs 30 per kg. The supply would reach in
two-three lots.
Apart from these two trading firms, the private traders
are also importing onion from Pakistan.
Onion prices had surged to Rs 70-85 per kg on December
20-21 because of damage to crops in Maharashtra, a major
producer, due to rains. Speculators were also suspected to be
pushing the prices.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who had
asked STC and PEC to go in for short-term import contracts,
hoped prices would soften further.
Sharma has also spoken to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit to ensure immediate distribution of imported onion
through outlets like Mother Dairy, the sources said.
Prices of onion which have a lot of political impact,
have eased to Rs 40-50 a kg in the retail market, though they
are still high for the common-man.
The government has taken several steps to rein in prices
of the kitchen staple.
These included slapping a total ban on exports and
abolition of import duty.
India produces about 12 million tonnes of onion, of which
exports accounted for about 1.8 million tonnes in last fiscal.
PTI