Farmers arrive with recent inventory of white onion at a market in Mahuva, Gujarat. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
In a shock transfer, the Union authorities on Thursday partially relaxed the indefinite ban on onion exports once more, paving the way in which for the “immediate” export of 2,000 tonnes of white onions, primarily grown in Gujarat, from three designated ports.
A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated that exports of white onions could be permitted solely after Gujarat’s Horticulture Commissioner certifies the merchandise and amount being exported.
While earlier relaxations to the ban specified the international locations the place shipments might go and mandated that such exports be channelled by means of the National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), the most recent notification units no such situations. It solely stipulates that the exports have to be routed by means of the Gujarati ports of Mundra and Pipavav, or Nhava Sheva in Mumbai.
Gujarat crop
Incidentally, horticulture exporters are learnt to have written to the Commerce Ministry and the DGFT on April 13 to determine if any leisure is within the offing for white onion exports, citing reviews of ongoing procurement of export high quality white onions at one of Gujarat’s Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
Gujarat is the predominant producer and exporter of white onions within the nation, with districts like Bhavnagar and Amreli — which go to the polls on May 7 — accounting for a big half of the produce.
The newest leisure has triggered some disquiet amongst onion farmers from neighbouring States like Maharashtra who develop purple onions. “Don’t farmers outside Gujarat also deserve export opportunities now that [domestic] wholesale prices for red onions have cooled,” requested a farmers’ consultant from Nashik.
‘A step forward’
Ajit Shah, president of the Horticulture Produce Exporters’ Association or HPEA, stated that allowing white onions’ exports with out specifying the vacation spot nation or company by means of which they are going to be channelled, is a step ahead. “The same relaxations must be offered for red onions, as well as smaller size onions [40 mm or less] that are generally not consumed in local markets,” he advised The Hindu.
While purple onion costs in wholesale markets have dropped to about ₹11 to ₹12 per kg, white onion costs are round ₹16 to ₹17, he stated. “It’s now nearly six months since onion exports were banned and we have enough stocks, while prices are lower. So, as and when the government does permit additional exports, it must open them to all traders and farmers,” Mr. Shah mooted.
Diplomatic exceptions
Fearing a scarcity of the politically delicate crop, the Union authorities had banned onion exports in December 2023. Last month, the curbs have been prolonged ‘till further orders’. However, it had stored the window open for exports to international locations making requests by means of diplomatic channels.
On March 1, 14,400 metric tonnes (MT) of onion exports have been permitted for the United Arab Emirates, with a quarterly cap of 3,600 MT. Through two extra notifications this month, a further 20,000 MT of onions have been permitted for the UAE “over and above” the quarterly quota, and 10,000 MT have been permitted for Sri Lanka.
