JOIN USStaunchly opposing a ban on onion exports to curb its skyrocketing price, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday said that the price rise was temporary, due to short supply of the bulb on account of heavy rain.
Pawar cautioned that banning onion export would dent India’s image as a global supplier of farm produce.
Onion-producing states such as Maharashtra have been hit by heavy rain, resulting in crop loss and short supply to wholesale markets,
Pawar said the increase in onion prices was a “temporary situation” as heavy rain has hit its supply and transport logistics.
The Minister’s remarks were prompted by the rapid increase in onion prices over the past few days. The retail price of onion touched Rs 35-40 a kg in Delhi while the wholesale price was pegged at Rs 25 a kg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia’s biggest onion market.
“ India has established itself as a major supplier of agricultural produce to the global market. If we ban exports, this image will be affected. So, we are against export ban on onion,” Pawar said on the sidelines of a CII event here. India’s agricultural exports increased to Rs 2.33 lakh crore during the 2012-13 fiscal, from Rs 1.86 lakh crore the previous year, he said.