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Gov’t announces empowering of local onion producers

May 30, 2022, 11:01 AM

Press release

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment wishes to inform the general public, particularly the importers and local producers of onions that it has finalised a framework to support the marketing of local onions. Under the framework, imports of onions will be controlled through an onion import licence issued by the Ministry every year to enable the sales of domestic onions.

The Ministry has already received a number of applications from interested importers for the license. This year’s license will be issued effective 1st June to 31st December 2022 and only licensed importers will be allowed to import onions to enable them also buy and sell local onions from farmers throughout the country. This measure is designed to help address the current challenges in the marketing of local onions and minimized the post-harvest losses.

The Ministry is therefore calling on farmers who currently have onions for sale to inform their Agriculture Regional Directorates or their respective Regional Agriculture Marketing Federations the quantities of onions they possessed.

The Ministry will facilitate the licensed importers to work closely with the Regional Agriculture Marketing Federations to buy the local onions. This process will be implemented every year to support local farmers to quickly sell their onions to support their livelihoods and also promote local production of onions.

The Ministry looks forward to the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.

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