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Hike in onion, tomato
prices short-lived
ISLAMABAD: The present hike in the prices of onion and tomato
is short-lived, the situation is expected to improve with
harvest from Sindh and Punjab provinces in coming few weeks.
According to official sources the onion crop is under stress
because of low supplies from Sindh but the country will be
soon having sufficient stocks for exports because Pakistan is
net exporter of onion.
The seasonality graph of onion shows that its prices will be
falling down sharply in April, being lowest of the year in May
and June. The production of onion for the current year is
estimated at 1.55 million tonnes against requirement of 1.40
million tonnes, the sources added.
The area target for cultivation of the crop during the year
2001-2002 was fixed at 105.3 thousand hectares and production
at 1542 thousand acres. The imports and exports of onion are
freely allowed as the commodity is highly perishable and
cannot be carried over from one season to another.
The major production comes from Sindh, 48 per cent of total
production, followed by Balochistan 25 per cent, Punjab 17 per
cent and NWFP 10 per cent. The onion year of Pakistan starts
from August in Balochistan and continues up to November. This
season is followed by crop of Sindh which has a number of
onion crops harvested from November to May. The main crop of
Punjab comes in April-May. NWFP produces the lowest quantities
of onion and the main crop of NWFP comes between June-July.
The sowing and harvesting of the onion varies in all
provinces.
courtesy Daily The News, 5
April, 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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