The government on Monday said the decision to impose a 40 percent export duty on onions was not premature but "timely". On behalf of the government, it was said that this step was taken at the right time to increase domestic supply and control retail prices.

The statement came amid protests by farmers at several places in Maharashtra's Nashik district against the imposition of 40 percent duty on onion exports. Traders are also against the imposition of duty. "The decision to impose export duty on onions is not premature," he said. Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI, "It is a timely decision to increase domestic availability and check prices." will interfere with the release of buffered onions in both the wholesale and retail markets.

The Center on Saturday decided to impose 40 per cent duty on onion exports amid indications of a rise in onion prices. The decision to impose export duty on onions for the first time is also aimed at curbing onion prices ahead of the festive season.

According to official data, the retail prices of onions in Delhi have touched around Rs 40 per kg. Singh said that currently the government is releasing onions from buffer stock in Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Assam. He said that in the last two days, 2,500 tonnes of onions were sold in Delhi-NCR at a subsidized rate of Rs 25 per kg. This decision of the Center was also taken due to the increase in the export of onions.