Export duty on onions: Union Minister Bharti Pawar says prices will not crash

livemint.com:

export duty on onions by the Centre, Union Minister Bharti Pawar on Monday said prices of the kitchen staple will not crash. Meanwhile, Under the aegis of the farmers union Shetkari Saghtana, onion farmers staged a ‘rasta roko’ agitation in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Monday against the Central government’s decision to impose a 40 per cent export duty on the kitchen staple. Amid the protests, one of the representatives of the Union said, "Farmers die by suicide.

Why do they do that? The onion crops are damaged due to rain and that is why the prices have increased. The Government should take note of the farmers’ needs and stop the farmers' suicides." The protest was organized in the Yeola area of the Nashik district earlier today. The government on Saturday imposed a 40 per cent duty on the export of onions to check price rise and improve supplies in the domestic market till December 31, 2023.

The government has taken the (export duty) decision to balance demand and supply and NAFED has been directed to procure additional two lakh tonnes of onion as buffer stock, Pawar said. Union Minister Bharti Pawar said the opposition was attacking the government over the rise in prices of onions and the move was to ensure there is availability of the crop in the domestic market. She said Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have ensured the buffer stock is increased to five lakh tonnes so that people get relief from high prices.