A decision with regard to the import of onions in response to the tenders floated by the National Agriculture Co-operative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) is likely to be taken in a couple of days, senior officials from NAFED said.
According to officials, although there were three bids in response to the tenders floated for importing 3 lakh onions per month, the lowest bid was R39.75 per kg which is expected to be sourced either from Pakistan, China or Iran. A meeting was held with the Delhi CM Sheila Dixit on Thursday during which she sought two days? time, officials said. Consignments of onion imports usually come through the Inland Container Depot at Delhi.
Officials, however, pointed out that the import will take at least a month, including a 17-day transit period, 4 days for loading and unloading and another 5 odd days for obtaining phytosanitary certificates. By the time the imported onions reach the domestic market, the kharif crop of onion will also arrive in the market, officials said.