Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the central government has completely abolished the 20 per percent export duty on onions. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, Mr Chouhan said that the removal of the export duty on onions will enable farmers’ hard-earned produce to reach global markets duty-free, securing better and more remunerative prices. He said that the Narendra Modi government is a farmer-friendly government and that giving remunerative prices to farmers and ensuring fair prices is its priority.

The export duty of 20 percent had been in place since 13th September last year to ensure domestic availability. According to estimates by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, rabi production this year, at 227 lakh metric tonnes, is over 18 percent higher than last year.