Import of onions may be permitted soon: agricultural secretary

According to Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhtar, the government may soon allow onion imports as the price of the cooking ingredient rises in the domestic market.

In order to protect farmers' interests, onion imports have been temporarily halted, she said today at a meeting on onion prices held in the ministry's conference room.

According to the ministry, 34 lakh tonnes of onion were produced in the country this year, with approximately 18.30 lakh tonnes currently on hand.

She stated that, given current production and stock levels, there is no reason to raise onion prices in the country, but the market price is a little high.

"The agriculture ministry keeps a close eye on the onion market." If the price of onions continues to rise, imports will be considered soon," she added.

On Thursday, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi stated that if onion prices continue to rise, the government will remove import barriers.

Retail prices of locally grown onions in Dhaka markets have risen by 78% in the last month, to Tk 60-Tk 65 per kilogramme, up from Tk 30-40 a month ago.

Imported onion prices rose 59% during the same period, according to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh price data.