NAFED floats tender to import onions from Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt

NAFED chairman Dr Bijender Singh 

IN A bid to check the soaring prices of onions, which touched an all time high of Rs 90 per kg, co-operative major National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) on Wednesday floated tender for import of the kitchen staple from Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt. The tender says in order to augment domestic supply of onions thereby easing out availability of onion in Delhi terminal market, it has been decided to import onions from Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt origin through the private international traders who are willing to import onions on behalf of NAFED and supply the same to NAFED. The tender was floated...
after onions touched Rs 90 in the retail market. The previous record high of retail prices was in 2010 when it touched Rs 85 per kg.  "NAFED is interested in importing onions of Pakistan, Iran, China and Egypt origin to be delivered at NAFED warehouse at Lawrence Road, New Delhi," the co-operative major said in the tender. Earlier, on September 2 also NAFED had floated a tender for import of onions.
A senior official of NAFED said onions from Pakistan, Iran and China would cost around $200-$250 per tonne, while onions from Egypt may cost $350 per tonne.
In the tender, NAFED has sought "fresh quality big onions, red/pink in colour, size above 45mm, with white flesh, well dried, free from mechanically damaged, bulbs double, semi-matured, sprouted, soft, mushy, wet bulbs and completely free from fungus infestation and insect mould attack."
It also said a crop certificate issued by the competent authority stating that the onion crop is of new crop of 2013, is required.
However, NAFED reserves the right to accept or reject any or all offer in part or full without assigning any reason thereof, says the tender.
NAFED was established in 1958 and is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act with an object to promote co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers. Agricultural farmers are the main members of NAFED, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of the federation. Its main objective is to “organise, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce, distribution of agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs, undertake inter-State, import and export trade.” NAFED also acts and assists for technical advice in agricultural production for the promotion and the working of its members and cooperative marketing, processing and supply societies in India.