Government names 13 STEs as canalising agencies for onion exports

NEW DELHI: The government has designated a total of 13 state trading enterprises (STEs) as canalising agencies for exports of onion, Parliament was informed today.

The 13 STEs include NAFED, Spices Trading Corporation, AP State Trading Corporation, and Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry D Purandeswari said in a reply in Lok Sabha.

AP State Trading Corporation, Karnataka State Cooperative Federation, National Cooperative Consumers Federation and North Karnatka Onion Growers cooperative Society are also among the designated STEs, she added.

The Commerce Ministry has recently imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 650 per tonne on onion to curb shipments and control rising prices.

Onion prices had recently soared to Rs 80 per kg in the major cities of the country.

India has exported 5.11 lakh tonnes worth Rs 776.47 crore during April-June period of this fiscal, she said.

Production of the kitchen staple stood at 16.6 million tonnes in 2012-13.

Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat are the main producing regions of the kitchen staple.