Prices at the Lasalgaon marketyard today ranged between Rs 280 and Rs 542 per quintal (average Rs 480) with 700 tractor trailers arriving today.

Branch Manager of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), S M Pillai, told The Indian Express that the Union government has lifted the ban on export of the Bangalore Rose and Krishnapuram varieties of onions grown in southern parts of the country. For other varieties and in the rest of the country, the ban had been partially lifted to allow exports up to 3,000 tonnes.

Accordingly, NAFED began procurement of onions at the wholesale markets in the district, which is currently pegged at 250 tonnes for Sri Lanka, the importer being the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment of Sri Lanka. Exports to other countries like Mauritius and theSeychelles are likely to resume soon.

The Centre had banned exports about four months ago when prices had touched an all-time high of Rs 4,000 per quintal in the wholesale markets. The ban, meant to be in force till January 31, has however been lifted a little earlier since the arrival of the fresh crop has pushed prices below Rs 400 per quintal.