22 August 2023, New Delhi: After tomatoes, now in order to give relief to the people who are troubled by the rising prices of onions, the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India (NCCF) has started selling onions from the government’s ‘buffer stock’ at a concessional rate of Rs 25 per kg in the national capital Delhi from Monday
The Central Government has increased the onion buffer quantity to 5 lakh metric tonnes this year after achieving the initial procurement target of 3 lakh metric tonnes. In this regard, the Department of Consumer Affairs has informed the National Consumer Cooperative Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to procure 1 lakh tonnes each for disposal of procured stocks in major consumption centers as well as to achieve the additional procurement target.
What is the government doing to increase the availability of onions?
Keeping in view the supply of onions to the major markets of the States and Union Territories, the buffer stock of onions is being maintained, targeting the major markets of the States and Union Territories. Where the retail prices are higher than the all-India average and are significantly higher than the previous month, Onions will be made available in these markets. To date, around 1,400 MT of onions has been dispatched from the buffer to the markets and the same is being released continuously to increase availability.
Where can you get cheap onion?
Apart from supplying onions to major markets of States and Union Territories, onions from buffer stock will also be made available at a concessional rate of Rs 25 per kg to retail consumers through NCCF retail outlets and mobile vans from Monday. Retail sales of onions will be suitably scaled up by involving other entities and e-commerce platforms in the days to come.
Benefit for consumers
Agriculture Ministry says multi-pronged measures taken by the government like fixed release of procurement stock to buffer and levy of export duty on onions will benefit farmers and consumers.
