In the light of skyrocketing prices, the government on Sunday prohibited onion exports until further notice and imposed limits on the stocks that can be held to prevent hoarding.
Government sources said the States had been asked to take “strict measures to prevent hoarding by traders, including organising raids”.
“Export policy of onion for the item description at Serial Number 51 & 52 of Chapter 7 of Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) classification of Export & Import Items is amended from free to prohibited till further orders,” an official notification said. In other words, “export of all varieties of onions, as described above, is prohibited with immediate effect.”
Further, a stock limit of 100 quintals for retail traders and 500 quintals for wholesale traders has been imposed.
The retail price of onions have shot up to as much as ₹60 per kg in the metros. At one point, they even touched ₹80 per kg.
A central buffer of 56,700 metric tonnes was built by the government.
The buffer stocks are maintained through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
Supplies to Delhi, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh are being conducted at regulated rates using these stocks.
Other States have also been asked to use this buffer and indicate their demand to the Department of Consumer Affairs or NAFED.
