 "Onion prices to stay high till Diwali, dip likely only after 2-3 weeks: Pawar")
Bangalore: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today indicated that onion prices - which have shot up to Rs 80-90 per kg - might remain high for 2-3 weeks, and asked states to crack down on hoarders to help tame the rates.
“…next two to three weeks will be tough and ultimately we have to find a solution,” Pawar said on onion prices that have reached all-time high levels.
[caption id=“attachment_1189503” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sharad Pawar indicated that onion prices will not see a dip in the coming weeks. Reuters.[/caption]
Asked whether he meant that the prices would come down in the next two to three weeks, he said: “No, no. I am not an astrologer. But I know something about crops. On my own assessment, this situation will continue for the next two to three weeks.”
Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of the Eighth National Conference on Krishi Vigyan Kendras 2013, Pawar also ruled out the possibility of traders exporting onions to other countries where prices are less than India.
“Nobody is exporting because in other countries price of onions is somewhere near 500 dollars and in India, it is 900 dollars. So in such a situation there is no export,” he said. He asked the Chief Ministers of all states to invoke the Essential Commodities Act against hoarders.
Pawar said he would inform Food Minister K V Thomas that the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd is ready to import some quantity.
“We have to import as early as possible. I have instructed the Managing Director of NAFED (that) if there is a request from any state we should be ready,” he said.
“Fortunately, there is ample onion (stock) available in China, Egypt and neighbouring countries and have collected figures and prices yesterday. The prices in these countries are cheaper compared to India,” Pawar added.
Pawar said the monsoon has been good this year but extensive rainfall has hit supply.
PTI
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SharadPawar_FilePhoto_Reuters.jpg){kind=link}