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Centre considering Maharashtra demand for lifting onion export ban

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma said the empowered Group of Ministers on food would look into the matter, after protests from growers in Nashik.

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The centre is considering "at the highest level" request from Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to completely lift the export ban on onion which has seen crash in prices, triggering farmers' protest.    

"The government is giving its attention at the highest level, to what has been said by the Maharashtra chief minister and union agriculture minister (Sharad Pawar)," commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma told reporters.    

Facing protests from growers in Nashik, Chavan spoke to Sharma last night seeking reversal of the centre's decision to ban onion exports.
    
Pawar, member of the empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) on food has also sought lifting the ban and restrictions on export of onion and sugar, respectively.
    
Sharma said eGoM would review the matter. The ministers' panel, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has allowed two varieties of onion for exports.
    
Onion prices, which had touched Rs 85 per kg at the retail level (Rs 60-70 per kg in wholesale), have fallen to as low as Rs4-5 a kg in the mandis of Maharashtra. It is now
selling at Rs20-25 a kg in retail.
    
"Last night, Maharashtra chief minister Prithivraj Chauhan did speak to me and subsequently written to us...I immediately discussed it with finance minister(Pranab
Mukherjee), who is the chairman of the eGoM (on Food)," Sharma said.
    
On Wednesday, hundreds of farmers in Nashik took to the streets and blocked the busy Mumbai-Agra highway to protest against the fall in onion prices after ban on exports.
    
However, Sharma said, there are many steps to help farmers. "There are state and national federations which can step in to purchase at a better price so that farmers do not
suffer,"he said.

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