Govt further extends export sops on onions till Sep 30

The government today further extended export sops on onion by three months till September 30 this year to curb fall in wholesale prices and protect farmers' interest.
The extension comes amid farmers' protests in many places including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which are major onion producing states. The farmers have been seeking loan waiver and better prices for their crops.
"The MEIS (Merchandise Exports from India Scheme) benefit for export of onions, fresh or chilled, is extended up to September 30 this year," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.
Wholesale prices fell by an average of Rs 5.50 per kg at Lasalgaon (Maharashtra) in June, Asia's biggest onion market, during last month from an average of Rs 8.50 per kg in the year-ago period.

Maharashtra is the top onion producer in the country.
At present, the arrival of 2017-18 kharif (summer) onion is in full swing, not only in Maharashtra but also in other states like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

It may be noted that 20 per cent of the country's total onion output is grown during the kharif season.
Since the kharif onion cannot be stored, farmers sell off the produce in domestic as well as overseas markets.
The arrival of quality onions has boosted exports in the last few weeks.