Pakistan exporting onions to India despite bad crop

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani traders are exporting onions to various countries, including India, despite the crop production lagging 30 to 40 percent behind domestic demand, a media report said.

One hundred tonnes of the commodity are being exported to India on a daily basis since Wednesday, keeping onion retail price buoyed up at Rs.60 per kg, Geo News reported Wednesday.

Traders at Karachi’s vegetable market said the annual yield of onions is five to six million tonnes in the country. However, the recent flash floods and downpours played havoc on the crops.

India abolished seven percent customs duty imposed on onion imports.

The onion prices in India have in recent days soared to Rs.70-80 per kg in retail markets following shortage of the commodity.