September 29, 2006	Friday	Ramazan 5, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: The country is likely to face acute shortage of onion in mid-October as its crop in Sindh province has been hit hard by recent torrential rains and floods, market sources told Dawn on Thursday.

The experts have urged the government to take precautionary measures to tackle the situation. In this connection, the government has been suggested to import onions from any neighbouring country, otherwise people would face problems, especially during the holy month of Ramazan.

They said onions coming from Afghanistan were currently making up for the shortfall country was facing due to inadequate domestic supply from different areas.

The onion season in Sindh lasts six months, which is considered to be the longest in the world, and it is an annual phenomenon that after supply of the commodity from Afghanistan stops, Sindh caters to the country’s requirement.

Usually, the onion crop in Sindh gets ready for its supply to the markets by the start of October when Kabul stops its supply. This year, however, the sources said, the situation in Sindh was grim due to unfavourable weather conditions.

“I think the price of onion will go up to Rs50 per kg during the expected shortage,” said Malik Azmat Ali, a vegetable baron in Fruit and Vegetable Market, Islamabad .

The traders have also brought the issue to the notice of Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, and Deputy Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali has assured them that he would inform the Ministry of Food and Livestock about the impending crisis so that the government could take precautionary measures.

Presently, 100kg bag of onions is being sold at Rs1,400 to Rs1,600 at the wholesale level. However, in case of shortage, the price can shoot up to Rs2,500 to Rs3,000.

The vegetable dealers said high transportation charges had also caused increase in the price of fruits and vegetables in the country as a truck loaded with onion and other vegetables that came from Pakistan-Afghanistan border area (Karlachi and Alizai) to Punjab cost Rs40,000 against its six months old freight charges of Rs14,000. Similarly, traders pay almost Rs400 for each 100kg bag of fruits and vegetables supplied from Gilgit, they added.