NAFED to import onions from Pak, Afghan for festive season
National Agriculture and Marketing Federation (NAFED) will import onions from Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure the supply of onions in the national Capital during the festive season. The step to import onions from Pakistan has been taken despite hostilities at western borders. With the onset of festival season, Delhi has been witnessing massive shortage of onions and the prices are spiralling. According to sources, daily sale of onion is around 1,000 quintals a day in the city. The requirement of onions during the festival season of Dussehra, Diwali and Eid-ul-Zuha in the city will increase manifold.
An internal assessment by the city Government has indicated that supply from Nasik would not suffice. The sowing of Kharif onions has been delayed and hence, the onions produced by the Indian farmers will reach the market by November. This will create huge scarcity of onions in Delhi till the end of October and this is the reason of worry for the top officials of Delhi administration. Onions are being sold between `16-`25 per kg in the Capital at present but its prices may spiral if the supplies are not received from Nasik in Maharashtra.
Any scarcity will put the ruling regime (read: BJP at the Centre) in bad light and hence, the city administration is not taking any chances to embarrass the power that be. Delhi Government is making effective coordination with the NAFED for ensuring this supply from Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“In order to make an objective assessment of requirement of onions in Delhi and discuss the modalities, price details and other arrangements for import from Pakistan and Afghanistan, we have arranged a meeting,” stated a communiqué of NAFED managing director written to top Delhi Government officials.
“The situation is alarming as described by NAFED in terms of procurement from the local market. Due to late sowing of Kharif onion due to delay in monsoon, arrival of onions which normally begins in September may get delayed. So the fresh arrivals are expected from November onwards,” said NAFED managing director.
“We had finalised import from China for the arrival by September but Delhi had not desired any supply and no import was done. As per directions of Government of India, NAFED has decided to import of 50,000 metric tonnes of onions from Pakistan and Afghanistan. This supply will be delivered at the nearest port or location desired by the State. If the orders are placed without delay, this will arrived October end or November to mitigate the shortage,” said the NAFED managing director R Rajagopal.
According to Food and Supplies Department officials, the Government has also prepared a market intervention plan to keep check on 41 essential commodities prices. A team of officials is analysed on daily basis.