The prices of onion is dipping rapidly owing to the bumper production during current season, however, the prices are still double than normal. Agriculturist told that onion crop was better in Sindh and Balochistan during the current season and exporters have resumed sending consignments of the commodity at larger scale during the last fortnight.
Currently more than 400 containers of onion have been exported to 5 to 6 East Asian and Middle Eastern countries after suspension of exports for a period more than four months because of damage to crop in Sindh and Balochistan after widespread monsoon rains.
Both southern provinces are the traditional centres of onion production and cater to exports and local demand round the year.
During the last moon soon season, widespread rains in Sindh and Balochistan not only damage the commodity which resulted to halt the export of onion, but it shoot up the prices in local market, compelling the consumers to pay higher prices for the commodity for the last three to four months that added financial burden to their kitchen budgets.
Shaikh Saeed Ahmed Kaloo, President Wholesale Vegetable Welfare Association Sabzi Mandi, Multan said that the bumper crop of onion had brought financial relief to the growers and farmers who have already suffered massive losses previously.
Majority of the 400 containers have been exported to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, UAE, Muscat and other Gulf countries, where the commodity are always in high demand due to their nutritious quality.
Replying to a question he said that India is the major exporter of onion for most of countries of the region as it caters to their requirement round the year while exports of Pakistani commodity are limited for a period of 3 to 4 months.
One of the major reasons of high yield of Indian onion is huge incentives and modern storing facilities available to the growers, which is resulting in higher exports of the commodity without any interruption.