GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 1671
ANSWERED ON: 07.03.2011
EXPORT AND IMPORT OF ONION
(a) the details regarding export and import of onion and garlic during the last three years, countrywise;
(b) the details regarding percentage of export of onion vis-a-vis its production during the said period;
(c) whether food inflation has increased due to high prices of onion and vegetables as per the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government has decided to ban the export of onions to control the spiralling prices;
(f) if so, the details thereof and the mechanism adopted for imposing the said restriction;
g) whether Pakistan has not allowed import of onion by road; and
h) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures being taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) The year-wise details of export of onions and garlic to top five destinations during the last three years are given below : Value in Rupees Crore Country-wise onion exports
Country 2007-08 Country 2008-09 Country 2009-10
Bangladesh 410.86 Bangladesh 735.71 Bangladesh 1131.30
Malaysia 206.42 Malaysia 319.27 Malaysia 413.29
U A E 144.16 U A E 215.35 Sri Lanka 193.04
Sri Lanka 107.22 Sri Lanka 158.84 U A E 179.04
Nepal 23.64 Pakistan 157.61 Pakistan IR 107.71
Others 143.44 Others 240.71 Others 295.02
Country-wise garlic exports
Country 2007-08 Country 2008-09 Country 2009-10
Nepal 0.16 USA 0.64
Bangladesh PR 29.73
Philippines 0.12 Jordan 0.45
Pakistan IR 11.49
Canada 0.06 Nepal 0.22
Thailand 1.98
Singapore 0.02 Pakistan 0.20
Philippines 0.30
Malaysia 0.01 Malaysia 0.15 Mauritius 0.26
Others 0.04 Others 0.40
Others 0.74
The year-wise details of Import of onions and garlic during the last three years country-wise are given below: Value in Rupees Crore Country-wise onion imports
Country 2007-08 Country 2008-09 Country 2009-10
Belgium 0.17 Bangladesh 0.06 Pakistan 0.56
Pakistan 0.02 Singapore 0.001 Netherland 0.42
Unspecified 0.05 Spain 0.30
Switzerland 0.07
Country-wise garlic imports
Country 2007-08 Country 2008-09 Country 2009-10
China P RP 1.43 Indonesia 0.01 China 0.04
Lao PD RP 0.07 Pakistan 0.10 USA 0.07
Pakistan 4.73 Philippines 0.001 Spain 0.58
Thailand 0.04
(b) As per Indian Horticulture database available upto 2009 published by National Horticulture Board the production of onions in 2007-08 was 13.9 MTs and in 2008-09 was 13.57 MTs. Out of this production, the export of onions in 2007-08 and 2008-09 was 7.19% and 12.30% respectively.
(c) & (d): Rise in prices of onions and vegetables were one of the main contributors to the inflation in food articles during the period from October 2010 to January 2011. The untimely rains and resultant damage to the onion crop was the main reason for the rise in prices.
(e) & (f): The export of Onions was banned by the Govt. of India w.e.f. 22nd Dec. 2010. Export of agriculture products depends on several factors including international demand and supply situation. Whenever, there is scarcity or short supply of the produce in the domestic market, Government takes initiatives like ban/ restriction on exports and fixing of Minimum Export Price (MEP) to ensure availability of such products to consumers at reasonable price. The ban on export of onions has been lifted since 18th February 2011.
(g): There were media reports on ban imposed by Government of Pakistan on export of onion by land route, however, there was no formal notification in this regard.
(h): Does not arise.