New Delhi - The Government has approved exports of around 0.3 million tonne of onion to countries including Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Mauritius on a government-to-government basis following their request.

Sources said that an official notification is expected soon. The shipment is likely to be executed by March31, 2024.

A senior official told that there would not be any blanket lifting of the ban on shipment of onion exports imposed in December, 2023. Instead, shipment would be allowed in limited ways with “terms and conditions”.

Farmer groups who have been demanding a total lifting of the ban on onion exports, because of sharp fall in mandi prices, said that the volume of exports approved is too small to boost prices in the domestic market.

According to the department of consumer affairs, the modal wholesale prices of onion dropped to Rs 2000/quintal on Monday from Rs 5000/quintal prevailed on December 8, 2023, when ban on exports was announced.