Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar Commend Centre's Move to Eliminate 20% Onion Export Duty
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Synopsis
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar praised the Central government's decision to abolish the 20 percent export duty on onions, effective April 1. This move is expected to benefit numerous onion farmers in Maharashtra, providing much-needed relief amidst ongoing financial challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Devendra Fadnavis thanks PM Modi for 20% export duty removal.
- Decision effective from April 1.
- Aims to support onion farmers in Maharashtra.
- Ajit Pawar emphasizes fair pricing for farmers.
- Former minister Chhagan Bhujbal also supports the move.
Mumbai, March 22 (NationPress) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah for the Central government's decision to eliminate the 20 percent export duty on onions. This decision will take effect on April 1 of this year.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister noted in a post on X that "A significant portion of onions is sourced from Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon, and this decision will greatly benefit onion producers in Maharashtra. I am deeply thankful to Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amitbhai Shah for making this crucial decision, which offers substantial relief to our onion growers."
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also praised the Centre's move, indicating that it would alleviate the burdens faced by countless onion farmers in the state.
"The Central government's decision is vital for the state's farmers. The removal of the 20 percent export duty on onion exports allows farmers to secure a fair price for their produce. I had personally reached out to Union Minister Amit Shah to address this issue," he remarked.
"Acknowledging the challenges faced by the farmers in our state and the necessity for urgent action, he took the initiative and played a pivotal role under the leadership of our esteemed Prime Minister Modi," he added.
"I extend my heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and the entire Union Cabinet. The state government remains committed to the welfare of farmers and will continue to make decisions that prioritize their interests in the future," he stated.
Former minister and NCP legislator from Yeola assembly seat in the onion-rich Nashik district, Chhagan Bhujbal, also expressed gratitude to the Centre for this decision.
Bhujbal had previously requested in the state Assembly that the 20 percent export duty be lifted immediately to prevent further hardship for onion farmers.
He emphasized that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar should approach the Centre to advocate for the immediate withdrawal of the export duty, as farmers are already grappling with financial difficulties due to the widening gap between production costs and onion selling prices.
Earlier, the Centre stated: "To ensure domestic availability, the government implemented measures to curb exports through duties, minimum export prices (MEP), and even export prohibitions for nearly five months, from December 8, 2023, until May 3, 2024. The 20 percent export duty, which has now been lifted, was instituted on September 13, 2024. Despite these restrictions, total onion exports during FY 2023-24 reached 17.17 LMT, and in FY 2024-25 (up to March 18), they amounted to 11.65 LMT. Monthly onion export quantities rose from 0.72 LMT in September 2024 to 1.85 LMT in January 2025.
