International Desk : India has withdrawn the 20 percent export duty on onion exports, which will come into effect from April 1. This information was reported by the news agency Reuters in a report on Saturday (March 22).

It said that Narendra Modi`s government took this decision almost five months after imposing restrictions on onion exports, including setting a minimum price to ensure the country`s demand is met. The 20 percent export duty had been in effect since September 13 last year.   

New Delhi says that this decision has been taken to increase consumer affordability as well as to fulfill the government`s promise to ensure fair prices for farmers.   

Earlier on May 4 last year, the Indian government fixed a 40 percent export duty and a minimum price of $550 per ton on onion exports.

The 40 percent duty was in effect till September. Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, the export duty was reduced to 20 percent on September 13, and from April 1, that too will no longer be in effect.