Producers slam Centre’s move to ban onion export

Mumbai: In what could become a sensitive issue ahead of Vidhan Sabha elections, onion producers in Maharashtra are upset over the Centre’s decision to prohibit the export of onions in the wake of its rising prices in the country. Maharashtra is one of the largest producers of onions in the country and the state farmers are likely to be hit badly by the ban, said experts.

Nanasaheb Patil, director of the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) said, “The Centre has been flip-flopping on the onion issue for long. At times it includes onion in the essential commodities while at times it bans its export. All these measures were taken to bring relief to consumers, but they have failed miserably. Neither farmers nor people have been benefited from it.”

Farmer leader Raju Shetti has slammed the Centre saying the decision would affect the farmers in Maharashtra. “If we compare the rates in international and Indian market, the export of onion was not possible. But, Centre’s move to ban the export has further aggravated the problem. This government is ruining the lives of farmers,” he said.

He further added, “On one hand, the Centre has increased the export prices and on the other hand it has banned the export. This will affect the farmers badly when the Kharif crop of onion will come to market within one and half months. The export-import policy should be stable, which will benefit the farmers during the export. Instead, a child’s play is going on. When the farmers were dumping their onions on the roads, the government did not procure it on time, and now it is asking not to export onion to rein in the prices,” said Mr Shetti.

The Centre has banned export of all varieties of onions with immediate effect until further orders, says a notification issued by the ministry of commerce and industry.

According to agriculture experts, this decision could prove to be a major issue with the Assembly polls just round the corner.