Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Maldives faces an onion crisis

According to Miadhu, "Maldivian traders says that the price of onions may go up in the market as a result of the heavy rains occurring over India which has rendered flooding of the onion fields in certain areas. Maldives imports large amounts of onion from India.

Trade Ministry informed that due to heavy rains experiencing over parts of India rendering flooding of onion fields the prices of onions is expected to go up. Ministry further said price of onion even in India has gone risen in the past few days."

In June/July 1989 India faced shortages of onions and price of onions went through the roof. Indian food security experts who analysed the situation revealed that increase in onion price was caused by market manipulation rather than real shortages.
``The unexplained spiral in prices of vegetables in June/July and the prevailing skyrocketing onion prices are the result of deft manipulation by market forces,'' said Devinder Sharma, food expert and president of the Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security.

In order to overcome the Indian onion crisis, Indian government allowed the import of onions from Dubai and other countries.

Maldives too will need to look for alternative supply sources such as from Dubai and other onion exporting countries in order to maintain stable supply at reasonable prices, when Indian suppliers are faced with shortages due to heavy rains.

No comments: