Centre starts onion sale at ₹24/kg
New Delhi
The Centre on Thursday launched subsidised onion sales at ₹24 per kg in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad to ensure affordability for consumers. Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi flagged off mobile vans, announcing that around 25 tonnes of onions from the government’s buffer stock will be distributed in these cities through cooperative agencies such as NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar.
Onions will be sold at subsidised rates in areas where retail prices exceed ₹30 per kg. From Friday, the initiative will also cover Chennai, Guwahati and Kolkata, continuing until December. Official data shows that while the all-India average onion price stood at ₹28 per kg, certain cities reported rates above ₹30.
The government currently holds 3 lakh tonnes of buffer stock, procured at ₹15 per kg under the Price Stabilisation Fund scheme for 2024-25. Joshi said calibrated disposal of stock helps curb food inflation and stabilise prices. Retail inflation in July dropped to 1.55 percent, the lowest in nearly eight years, reflecting the impact of such interventions.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare highlighted that domestic onion production is estimated at 30.77 million tonnes in 2024-25, about 27 percent higher than last year. She added that exports remain steady, with 1 lakh tonnes shipped in both July and August, and no export restrictions in place. Selling onions at ₹24 per kg will allow recovery of procurement costs while ensuring supply during the festive season, she noted.
The onions, mainly sourced from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh during the rabi season, are closely monitored through an integrated system covering procurement, storage and disposal. Alongside onions, cooperative bodies like NCCF are also selling tomatoes at subsidised rates of ₹30 per kg in Delhi-NCR to stabilise prices.
