Government’s subsidised onion sale brings relief, prices drop in major cities

Government's subsidised onion sale initiative leads to price drops in major cities, expanding distribution channels for affordability.

The government's subsidised onion sale initiative, launched on September 5, has led to price drops in major cities within days, the consumer affairs ministry said on Saturday (September 14, 2024).

In Delhi, retail onion price fell from ₹60 to ₹55 per kg, while Mumbai saw a decrease from ₹61 to ₹56 per kg. In Chennai, the retail price reduced from ₹65 to ₹58 per kg, the ministry said in a statement.

The government initiated the sale of onions at a subsidised rate of ₹35 per kg through mobile vans and outlets of NCCF and NAFED.

The program, which began in Delhi and Mumbai, has since expanded to other major cities including Chennai, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati.

Responding to the growing demand, the government has decided to increase the quantity of subsidised onion and expand distribution channels to include e-commerce platforms, Kendriya Bhandar outlets, and Mother Dairy's SAFAL stores.

The government has also initiated wholesale disposal of onion in major cities. It has already commenced in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, with plans to extend to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata and eventually all state capitals.

A dual transportation strategy involving both road and rail networks is being implemented to improve logistics efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.