Onion merchants extend help to farmers after imposition of 40% export levy

Onion merchants from Delhi's Azadpur mandi have come forward to help the farmers who are worried about the falling onion prices following the government's decision to put a 40 percent duty on the export of onions.

There has been resentment among the onion farmers after the Centre on Saturday imposed a 40% duty on the export of onions and also the move by the Centre to offload stocks of onions in various wholesale markets to reduce the retail prices.

In the backdrop of this ongoing resentment, the onion merchants of Delhi's Azadpur mandi, the largest in Asia, have advised the farmers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Bihar not to sell the onions in a hurry and face losses.


Rajinder Sharma, president of Onion Merchants Association of Azadpur mandi said "The Central government has put this export duty on onions to put a lid on rising prices as the Lok Sabha elections are nearing. We have asked the farmers not to panic and sell their produce. The prices at the wholesale level will correct by Rs 5 per kg within a fortnight. At the retail level, there will be a drop of Rs 10 per kg, which will give relief to the consumers."

At present, the wholesale price of onion is hovering around Rs 20 -25 per kg and at the retail level at Rs 40 - 50 per kg.