Retail onion price up 57%; Centre steps up buffer onion sale to provide relief to consumers

Centre steps up sale of buffer onion at subsidised rate of ₹25/kg to provide relief to consumers as all-India avg. retail onion price rises 57% to ₹47/kg. 1.7 lakh tonnes of buffer onion offloaded in 22 states.

As the all-India average retail onion price shoots up by 57% to ₹47 per kg, the Centre on October 27 decided to step up the sale of buffer onion at a subsidised rate of ₹25 per kg in retail markets to provide relief to consumers.

The all-India average retail price of onion rose to ₹47 per kg on October 27, from ₹30 per kg in the year-ago period, as per the data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry.

In the national capital, the retail price of onion was at ₹40/kg on October 27 as against ₹30/kg in the year-ago period, the data showed.

"We have been offloading buffer onions since mid-August and we are stepping up the retail sale to check further rise in prices and provide relief to the consumers," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told PTI.

According to the Ministry, onion is being offloaded from the buffer stock in wholesale and retail markets in the States where prices are sharply rising. Since mid-August, about 1.7 lakh tonnes of buffer onion has been offloaded in 22 States at different locations.

In retail markets, buffer onion is being offloaded through two cooperative bodies NCCF and NAFED outlets and vehicles at a subsidised rate of ₹25 per kg. In Delhi too, buffer onion is being sold at this subsidised rate.

A senior Ministry official said the delay in kharif onion sowing due to weather reasons has resulted in less coverage and late arrival of the crop.