In a bid to control onion price rise, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) will offload 200 tonnes of onion daily from 22 October onwards in Delhi from the government's buffer stock, said Managing Director Sanjeev K Chadha.
Retail prices of onion - the main kitchen item, have increased to Rs 30 to 40/kg due to fixed supplies from the producing states, as said by the trade data. Chadha said, "We were off-loading 75 to 100 tonnes of onions from the buffer stock in the past 10 days. Now, we will be releasing more quantity, at least 200 tonnes daily in the wholesale markets.”
He added that Nafed will not only offload onions in the wholesale markets but also to Safal (Mother Dairy's subsidiary) for retail distribution in all 400 outlets.
Additionally, Mother Dairy has decided to sell onions at Rs 23.90/kg (loose variant) and Rs 25.90 /kg (packed one). Chadha expressed hope that the increase in supplies will hold the price hike in wholesale as well as retails markets of Delhi and NCR. The official further told that there was sufficient quantity of onions in the buffer stock, formed by the centre using the price stabilization fund.
