NAFED to lift ban on export of onions

NASHIK, February 20: The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) has decided to lift the ban on onion exports with effect from February 23 to prevent onion-growers in Maharashtra, the main onion growing centre in the country, from incurring heavy losses.

Speaking to newspersons at Lasalgaon in Niphad taluka of the district here last evening, NAFED director Changdevrao Holkar said the decision had been taken following the crash in onion prices by Rs 1000 per quintal. Urban consumers could now buy onions at the rate of Rs eight to Rs 10 per kg by next week, he added.

Meanwhile, farmers in Lasalgaon, Pimpagaon, Chandvad and Satana in the district feared they would suffer heavy losses if the stocks of rangda onion, a highly perishable quality, was not cleared immediately. Stocks continued to pour in as trucks and tractors laden with onions were stationed at Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon.