The Government of India will set up a stakeholder group to address onion storage issues and explore new export markets to help recover lost global share.
A delegation of onion exporters met Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi with officials from APEDA to discuss sector challenges. The minister acknowledged their concerns but said raising RODTEP rates or offering transport subsidies was not possible under WTO rules. He directed APEDA to work with the Agriculture Ministry and the Department of Consumer Affairs to develop solutions.
Exporters said erratic weather over the past two years has reduced India's share in key markets such as the UAE, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, now supplied by Pakistan, China, Egypt, and Türkiye. They also raised concerns about export bans and government interventions that have pushed prices below production costs.
They urged investment in modern storage systems to reduce post-harvest losses estimated at 40%, as well as incentives for private sector facilities. "Modern storage systems are critical to reduce nearly 40 per cent post-harvest loss," one exporter said.
The Maharashtra State Onion Producers Farmers Association, meanwhile, asked the government not to depress prices ahead of state elections and launched a "phone protest," calling ministers and officials to demand relief from falling onion prices.
Source: Businessline
