New Delhi, December 19: A week after making an announcement of importing an additional 12,660 metric tonnes of onions -- expected to arrive by December 27, the Union government on Thursday announced that it has given contracts for additional 12,500 Metric Tonnes (MT) of onions from Turkey. With this, the total import of onions contracted reached to 42,500 MT of which 12,000 MT to arrive in India before 31st December, 2019.

Informing about the latest development Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) -- which imports onions on behalf of the government -- stated that this move would boost domestic availability and control prices of edible bulbs. It is to be known that the price of these edible bulbs are shooting at an average of Rs 100/per kilogram (kg) in major cities, but rates are reaching Rs 160/kg in some metros. Onion Conundrum: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Blames Rain and Flooding For Price Hike, Says Govt Taking Steps to Import Onion Soon.

The official statement said, as news agency ANI quotes, "Central government contracts additional 12,500 MT of Onions from Turkey. Total imports contracted so far is 42,500 MT, of which 12,000 MT to arrive in India before 31st December, 2019."

Here's the ANI tweet:

The MMTC had been directed to import onion after Department of Consumer Affairs' Price Stablisation Management Committee (PSFMC). It is expected that the latest stock of onion will arrive in the country by mid-January and decrease the prices of onions in the country. Also, the availability of edible bulbs would increase.

Earlier, the Narendra Modi government in Centre had banned the export of onions and imposed stock holding limits apart from imports to check prices. The production is estimated to have declined by around 25 percent in Kharif seasons 2019-20 due to late monsoon, followed by excessive rains.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 19, 2019 09:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).