From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 23: With reports of onion prices ballooning to hit Rs 90 to 100 per kg in Delhi and Northern parts of India, Karnataka has ruled out imposing ban on movement of onions from the State to other States.
 
“When our growers are fetching better prices we will not impose ban unless the Centre directs us,” Karnataka’s Horticulture Department Principal Secretary M K Shankerlinge Gowda reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday.

''We cannot impose ban on movement of onions from the State to other States unless specifically directed by the Centre,”  he declared.

Onion prices in Bangalore ranged between Rs 30 and Rs 60 per kg depending on quality of the produce.

The State Government only provides minimum support price to ensure stable prices for various commodities in the market.

Continued rains and hoarding of the produce were not the only reasons for the price rise. Shortage of the crop and high demand led to price rise across the country, he said.

Karnataka’s Horticulture Minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who was present, said the State’s onion crop would come to the market by October end.

The department has been exploring whether it was possible to take up the onion crop during the rabi season in the State.

The farmers have been growing the crop during the kharif season. The farmers of Maharashtra grow the crop during the rabi season, he said.

Onions produced by the Maharashtra farmers can be stored for several days while Karnataka’s onions cannot be stored for several days on account of high water content, he said.

Meanwhile, the Union Agriculture Ministry officials have decided to hold a video-conference with state horticulture department officials to assess the demand and supply to onions in the State and rest of the country.