New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): Facing flak over skyrocketing onion prices, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar blamed the rate hike on shortage created by low production this season. Tomar was speaking during a discussion on "Crop loss and its impact on farmers" in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Talking about shortage, the Minister said, states put the expected onion production at 69.9 lakh tonnes in November. But the actual onion production was likely to be 53.73 lakh tonnes, he said.

To deal with the problem, the government had banned export of onions and ordered imports, said Tomar, adding, "I have also written to the Chief Ministers to take steps to deal with the issue."

The Minister said onion was cultivated in India in three seasons. Over 70 per cent of onion is produced during the rabi season, 20 per cent in the kharif, and 10 per cent after the kharif. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan are the largest onion producing states.

Last week, Home Minister Amit Shah had reviewed progress in onion import to check spiralling prices.