Onion imports mean a short-term relief

The more worrying factor is that the rain has damaged saplings planted in September and October. The saplings of garwa (light red) onion, which would have been ready for harvesting in December-January, have been washed away in Shirur, Rajgurunagar, Haveli, Daund, Baramati and Indapur areas.

Nearly 80 per cent crop in western Maharashtra has been destroyed. Pune and Nashik, known for export quality onions, have not even produced enough for the domestic market. As against a daily 200 truckload of onions, the city has to make do with 30 to 35. Maharashtra accounts for 80 per cent of the nation’s onion exports.

While the skyrocketing prices have caused immense hardships to the common people, the National Agriculture Marketing Federation of India’s decision to import about 15,000 metric tonnes may only mean a short-term relief. As Kachi points out, the city’s weekly requirement is 10,000 metric tonnes. But it will receive only 400 metric tonnes.