Punjab gets onions from Afghan to check prices

With onion prices going through the roof, traders from Punjab have started importing the crop from Afghanistan through the Attari-Wagah land route.
Though onions from Kabul are not fully ripened, traders said that they are bringing it in very small quantities.
"A few traders have just started importing onion from Afghanistan. About 2-4 trucks of onions are being imported through the Attari-Wagah land route per day," Amritsar-based trader Rajdeep Uppal told PTI.
Traders from Punjab and Delhi are finding it feasible to import the crop from Afghanistan for sale in the country in the wake of its higher prices in the domestic market, he added.

However, traders refused to disclose the rate at which they are importing the crop from Afghanistan.
"At present, the Afghanistan crop is a bit unripe. But we expect in next few days, the crop will get matured and thus more consignment will flow into India," said Uppal, who is also former Chairman of CII Amritsar.

Meanwhile, traders are also in talks with Pakistan based suppliers for import of onion but the neighbouring nation has imposed a ban on export of the item through the Attari-Wagah land route.
"Exporters in Pakistan are waiting for clearance from concerned authorities to allow them to supply onion to India through the land route," Uppal said.

Traders had earlier imported onion from Pakistan in January 2011 and from Afghanistan in September 2013 in the wake of shortage in supplies.
India and Pakistan had agreed to start cross border movement of trucks in October 2007 from Attari check post at Amritsar in India to Wagah border in Pakistan with an intention of boosting bilateral trade.
Currently, Pakistan allows import of 137 items from India through the Attari-Wagah land route including vegetables, oil cake and fruits.
Indian imports cement, gypsum, dry dates, rocks salt and aluminium ores among others through the route.