Centre asks Delhi govt to sell onions at Rs 23.90/kg

NEW DELHI: With onion prices still ruling high in the national capital, the Centre has asked the Delhi government to take the key kitchen staple from its buffer stock and

sell at a maximum retail price of Rs 23.90 per kg through its civil supplies department and ration shops.

While the central government data showed onion prices ruling at around Rs 39-40 per kg in the national capital,

retailers in some parts of the city are selling as high as Rs 50 per kg depending on the quality and locality.

On the central government's direction, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) as well as Mother Dairy are offloading onion from the central

buffer stock in the national capital. Mother Dairy is selling at Rs 23.90 per kg through its Safal outlets.

"We have requested the Delhi government to further boost supply by selling the central buffer stock of onion through its civil supplies department and ration shops," a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.

On the other hand, Delhi Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Imran Hussain has reviewed the issue of rising retail price of onions in Delhi with Commissioner and other senior officers of Food and Civil Supplies Department and expressed his concern regarding rising retail prices of Onion. The Delhi minister was informed that a meeting in this regard was also convened by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution System, where Delhi Government requested Central Government to provide financial assistance under Price Stabilization Fund so that the Delhi Government could consider providing onion at affordable prices to the citizens through Public Distribution System (PDS) Outlets, in addition to onion being provided through SAFAL Outlets.

The state has been offered to sell onion at a maximum rate of Rs 23.90 per kg and take stock at a price of Rs 15-16 per kg from the Centre, the official said. Delhi's onion requirement is 350 tonnes per day, while the NCR requirement is 650 tonnes per day, the official added.

The centre has created a buffer stock of 56,000 tonnes of onion this year, of which 10,000-12,000 tonnes has been offloaded by NAFED, NCCF and Mother Dairy so far. Delhi is a price sensitive market, besides a rise in prices of this key kitchen stable has led to the ouster of several governments in indian elections in the past.

Onion prices are under pressure due to likely fall in kharif (summer) production owing to 10 per cent decline in sowing area in key growing states especially Maharasthra.