India imports 425 tonnes of onion from Egypt

India has imported onion from Egypt at a price higher than that prevailing in major mandis

India has imported about 425 tonnes (15 container-loads) of onion from Egypt at a price substantially higher than that prevailing in major mandis, including that in Lasalgaon.

Of the 15 container-loads, eight (between 28-29 tonnes each) were transported to the Lasalgaon mandi, while the rest containers were supplied to the markets here.

Nanasaheb Patil, chairman of the Lasalgaon Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, said, “The cost of the imported onions works out to Rs 25 a kg in Lasalgaon, against the prevailing price of Rs 15-18 a kg from local sources. Also, the quality the imported onion is poorer than that of Indian origin.”

Trade sources believe, the government's objective would be to keep local prices under control.