Onion import from Afghanistan picks up

Chandigarh: Import of onions from Afghanistan has picked up momentum and is likely to increase further, traders said on August 24, about the supplies which are aimed at bringing down the shooting prices of the commodity in India. "Against 2 to 4 trucks a day initially, now minimum 6 to 7 trucks carrying onion are crossing over to India via Attari-Wagah land route (in Punjab) from Afghanistan," according to Amritsar-based trader Anil Mehra.

Traders said the supply of onions from Afghanistan may increase further. With onion prices going through the roof in India, traders from Punjab have started importing the crop from Afghanistan through the Attari-Wagah land route. Traders from Punjab and Delhi are finding it feasible to import the crop from Afghanistan for sale in the country in the wake of its higher prices in the domestic market.

The Punjab traders, at the same time, lament that onions from Afghanistan are not of great quality. "Onions from Afghanistan are not of superior quality. Moreover, the wastage is much more in the imported item while being brought in trucks," Mehra said. As quality of onions from Afghanistan is not up to the mark, the wholesale prices of imported crop remained Rs 20-45 per kg in the market, he said. "Onions from Afghanistan are mainly being bought by local hotels and restaurants as people are not preferring it for their own consumption because of quality issues," said Mehra.