Sri Lanka to import onions from Pakistan
January 07, 2011
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is likely to follow India in importing onions from Pakistan as price of the crucial ingredient for curry hits 340 Sri Lankan rupee at the retail markets, a Colombo based newspaper reported on Wednesday.
According to the newspaper, the government slashed its import tax and took urgent measures to import onions from Pakistan. The price escalated due to a drop in onion harvest in Sri Lanka, the newspaper said.
India, too, is suffering from onion shortage and has put a ban on its exports, limiting prospects of easy imports from the close neighbour. The upcoming onion harvest in Sri Lanka is also reported to be lower than expectations.
In Kalpitiya, a major onion growing area of Sri Lanka, area under onion cultivation has dropped from 1800 hectares in the previous season to only 250 hectares in the current season, said a report from Sri Lanka’s Sinhala Radio Neth FM. Quoting farmers, it said, losses caused by floods and diseases have discouraged farmers. One US dollar is around 110 Sri Lankan rupees.
According to the newspaper, the government slashed its import tax and took urgent measures to import onions from Pakistan. The price escalated due to a drop in onion harvest in Sri Lanka, the newspaper said.
India, too, is suffering from onion shortage and has put a ban on its exports, limiting prospects of easy imports from the close neighbour. The upcoming onion harvest in Sri Lanka is also reported to be lower than expectations.
In Kalpitiya, a major onion growing area of Sri Lanka, area under onion cultivation has dropped from 1800 hectares in the previous season to only 250 hectares in the current season, said a report from Sri Lanka’s Sinhala Radio Neth FM. Quoting farmers, it said, losses caused by floods and diseases have discouraged farmers. One US dollar is around 110 Sri Lankan rupees.
