Onion exports may rise 6.57 %

The exports of onion is expected to rise by 6.57 per cent to 12 lakh tonnes during the current financial year against last year's 11.26 lakh tonnes. The country exported around 4.45 lakh tonnes by October-end.

India is the second largest onion producer in the world after China, which produces on an average 110 lakh tonnes a year. India produces 66 lakh tonnes.

Around 17.07 per cent of the country's total onion production is exported to countries such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Maharashtra contribute 32 per cent of the country's total production and 70 per cent of the total exports.

The country's onion exports increased by 17.29 per cent to 11.26 lakh tonnes in 2006-07 against 9.60 lakh tonnes in 2005-06.

When asked about the fluctuations in prices of onions throughout the year, senior official from the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) said, "The country needs to increase onion storage capacity to 5 lakh tonnes to avoid fluctuations in the prices."