Sharad Pawar opposes restrictions on the export of onions

NASHIK: NCP chief and former union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar today said he had written to the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan opposing restrictions/ ban on the export of onion.

Nashik district is a major producer of onion. The constraints on exports harm the farmers, Pawar said, talking to reporters.

Pawar inaugurated a two-day conference on horticulture, organised by city-based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University and the newspaper 'Agro One' here this afternoon.

Speaking on the occasion he said the focus should now be on increasing the production of vegetables and poultry products.

Stating that Maharashtra leads in the export of mango, chikoo, grapes and pomegranate, he asked the government to ensure that water scarcity due to delayed monsoon does not hit the fruit-tree plantations in the state.