Fresh Onions Arrive in Delhi to Stabilize Prices
A new shipment of 840 metric tons of onions, procured by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) under the Department of Consumer Affairs Price Stabilization Fund, arrived at Kishanganj Railway Station in Delhi today. This is the second bulk shipment of onions delivered by rail to Delhi-NCR, following an initial load of 1,600 MT on October 20th.
The onions will be distributed across Delhi-NCR, with a majority destined for the Azadpur Mandi to boost availability in the local market. A portion of the stock will also be sold in retail outlets at a subsidized price of Rs.35 per kilogram.
This initiative is part of the government's efforts to stabilize onion prices across the country. A total of 4.7 lakh tons of rabi onion have been reserved for the price stabilization buffer this year, with releases beginning on September 5th. Over 1.4 lakh tons have already been transported to various states.
Retail chains like SAFAL, Kendriya Bhandar, and Reliance Retail have partnered with NAFED and NCCF to offer onions at the set price of Rs.35 per kilogram. State governments have also been provided with 86,500 MT for localized distribution.
Since September, the average retail prices of onions have seen a marked stabilization in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi. The arrival of bulk onion shipments in North-eastern states is expected to further control prices. In Nashik, mandi prices have recently dropped from a peak of Rs.47 per kilogram to Rs.40 as of October 29th.