Onion prices have risen in Maldives following difficulty in importing the diet staple from India due to the delay in summer-sown crop arrivals triggered by longer, heavier rains than usual, resulting in inflated onion prices across Asia.
India is the world's biggest seller of the Asian diet staple and it was compelled to ban exports after extended Monsoon downpours delayed harvests and shrivelled supplies. Onion prices in India jumped to USD 63.30 per 100 kilogram, their highest in nearly six years, due to the delay in summer-sown crop arrivals triggered by longer, heavier rains than usual, resulting in inflated onion prices across Asia.
Onion prices rose drastically in Maldives with a kilogram sold for about USD 3 and sacks sold for over as much as USD 65. Maldivian businesses claim Thoothukudi, the main port Maldives ship goods from India, have not allowed the export of onions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained Maldivian businesses can import onions from India without any difficulties. The ministry said India would continue supplying Maldives onions under an agreement signed between the two countries during the visit of former Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to Maldives earlier this year.