The government has decided to further increase the number of import permits in an effort to keep onion prices under control in the domestic market. On December 15 and 16, a total of 575 import permits, or IPs, will be issued each day, allowing for the import of onions to help stabilise supply.
Under the decision, each import permit will allow a maximum import of 30 tonnes of onions. As a result, permissions will be granted for the import of a total of 34,500 tonnes of onions over the two-day period.
The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture on Sunday night.
According to the press release, all existing application conditions will remain unchanged. Only importers who applied for onion import permits on or after August 1 will be eligible to apply again during these two days. Each importer will be allowed to submit only one application.
Meanwhile, the Plant Protection Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension said the government has approved the import of a total of 19,500 tonnes of onions from India over the past eight days.
