Relaxed rules on pests aided onion imports

PUNE: The central government’s decision to relax pest and diseasecontrol measures on onion imports led to a surge in imports of the vegetable this week, helping reduce their wholesale prices by 20 per cent to 25 per cent. Average onion prices at most markets in Maharashtra declined by Rs 10-20 per kg on Monday and Tuesday and settled at Rs 60-70 per kg. The arrival of the kharif harvest has also started gaining momentum. The agriculture ministry extended the relaxation in fumigation treatment conditions for the import of onions to January 15, 2020, on December 4. Prior to that, domestic onion prices had crossed Rs 100 a kg, with traders claiming that meeting the phytosanitary conditions and the associated paperwork took a long time, delaying imports.