Government steps in with Rs 25/kg buffer onion sales

In a noticeable increase, the all-India average retail price of onions has risen to Rs 47 per kilogram, marking a 57% surge from the previous year's Rs 30 per kilogram. The national capital, Delhi, reported retail onion prices at Rs 40 per kilogram on Friday, compared to Rs 30 per kilogram in the same period last year.

To alleviate the rising costs and provide relief to consumers, the government has decided to intensify the sale of buffer onions at a subsidized rate of Rs 25 per kilogram in retail markets.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh stated that buffer onions have been released since mid-August, and retail sales are being accelerated to curb further price increases. Over 1.7 lakh tonnes of buffer onions have been distributed in 22 states across various locations since mid-August. Weather-related delays in kharif onion sowing have led to reduced crop coverage and late arrivals, impacting domestic supply. To address this, the government has doubled the buffer onion stock for the current year and maintains a buffer stock of 5 lakh tonnes for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with plans to procure an additional 2 lakh tonnes of onions in the near future.