SIX LAKH TONNES OF ONION RELEASED FOR EXPORT

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The government has decided to release six lakh metric tonnes of onion for export upto 31^st March, 2003 with immediate effect. With this, the entire quota of 7 lakh metric tonnes of onion, for the year 2002-2003, has been released for export. This has been done on the recommendations of the inter-Ministerial Review Committee.

The quantity of onions allotted to various canalising agencies is as follows:

1. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) – 2,10,000 metric tonnes;
2. Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) – 2,10,000 metric tonnes;
3. Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd. (GAIC) -- 60,000 metric tonnes;
4. The Spices Trading Corporation Ltd. (STCL) -- 36,000 metric tonnes;
5. AP-State Trading Corporation – 30,000 metric tonnes;
6. The Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation Ltd. (KSCMF) -- 12,000 metric tonnes;
7. The National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) – 30,000 metric tonnes; and
8. The North Karnataka Onion Growers Cooperative Society – 12,000 metric tonnes