Big size Chinese onion to boost supply

Big size onions, each weighing about half-a-kg, from China have arrived in Mumbai to boost supply of the kitchen staple in the domestic market.

Big size onions, each weighing about half-a-kg, from China have arrived in Mumbai to boost supply of the kitchen staple in the domestic market.

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"Eleven tonnes of onion arrived here from China yesterday to boost the stock of the important veggie in the domestic market," Onion and Potato Market Washi Director Ashok Bajuj told PTI.

The wholesale prices of the Chinese onion are ruling in the range of Rs 32.50 to Rs 40 per kg, he said.

The Chinese onions have been imported by a private company (Hindustan Trading), Baluj said adding they have been stored in the APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) godown in Washi in Mumbai.

The vegetable is of big size weighing about half-a-kg each, Baluj added.

Wazir Bhai of Hindustan Trading said, "We have contracted 11 tonnes of onions from China on trial basis. More shipments will be ordered seeing the response of the customers."

"Five star hotels are showing great interest in purchasing the Chinese onions," he said.

Baluj said that customers say the quality of the Chinese onion is good but its taste is not that pleasant.

Prices of the vegetable are ruling high at Rs 50-60 a kg in retail markets across the country on short supply.

To meet the demand, government has also asked state-run trading companies to source onion from other neighbouring countries.

On Friday, about 200 tonnes of onion imported by the government from Pakistan had landed at the Mundra port in Gujarat.