Imported onions offer some relief in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Even as some markets in Chennai and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu saw onion prices dipping after imported onion arrived, the government announced that another 500 metric tonnes will arrive soon.

Food Minister R. Kamaraj said Tamil Nadu will get 500 metric tonnes of onions from the central grid. “They will be sold at cheap prices at farm fresh stores across the state,” he told the media.

“We have asked for 1,000 metric tonnes of onion from the Centre. They have released 500 MTS in the first phase. The onions will reach Tamil Nadu by Dec.13 or 14, and will be sold at around 6,000 shops at low prices.” Kamaraj claimed onions are already being sold at Rs40 per kg at farm fresh stores. Reports said the Rs40 a kg onions haven’t helped much because stocks are low. On Tuesday onion still sold at Rs140160 a kilo in most parts of the state, traders in Chennai said.

They pointed out that in Tiruchi, one of the largest wholesale markets in the state, the direct import by traders have helped bring down the price to Rs100 a kilo.the market caters to five districts.

Tiruchi, however, may not import again as increased arrivals are expected from Perambalur, Tiruchi and Namakkal districts.

Bellary in Karnataka and Nashik in Maharashtra supply bulk of the onion to most wholesale markets in Tamil Nadu. Supplies of the smaller variety, which is known as sambar onion, come from neighbouring districts like Perambalur, Tiruchi and Namakkal.

This year unprecedented rains destroyed crops in these three districts.

According to local media reports, the crop is raised on over 8,000 hectares in Perambalur district and on about 4,000 hectares in Tiruchi district. Traders say arrivals from these districts have plunged to 25 bags daily from the 500 available earlier. However, supplies are now improving.

Centre is also importing onions from Egypt, among other nations. The Union cabinet on

November 20 had approved import of 120,000 metric tonnes of onion.

Tamil Nadu main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin attacked the Tamil Nadu government over high onion prices, alleging no proactive measures have been made to help the common man.

In a statement, Stalin warned the Anna DMK government that increasing onion prices could bring down the government.

He pointed out that onion is being sold at Rs40 a kilo in states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana. “Why do people complain thatthepriceofonionsisabovetheirlevel,”heasked.