The export of onions from India to Maldives will continue uninterruptedly, until the end of 2021.

In a letter addressed to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Consumer Affairs Ministry of India suggested for the quantity being exported to be deducted from the annual quota, and for it to be divided into equal monthly quotas for the remainder of 2020 as well as 2021.

The suggested amendment to the quotas have not been finalized by the Indian government thus far.

Further, export can only be done from the port of Tuticorin, as it was done in the past.

Indian news outlets have reported the government’s decision to lift the ban on the export of onions of all varieties.

The ministry had recommended permitting the export of 10,000 tons each from Banglalore Rose and Krishnapuram onions as well as the monthly export of 150 tonnes of onion to Bhutan for the next three months.

The neighboring nation banned the export of onions from September 14 following challenges to suppliers posed by heavy flooding due to torrential rains in some regions.

Due to Krishnapuram Onions not being used in India, they are exported to Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Singapore and a majority of onions from Bangalore Rose are to be exported to Southeast Asian countries.

Indian news outlets cite the ministry to have recommended that these two varieties be exported in consultation with the horticulture departments and export, through Chennai port following the same procedure adopted in 2019.