Onion prices in Delhi-NCR touch Rs 50/kg, govt gets cracking

New Delhi, Jul 30: High-quality onion prices today hit Rs 50 per kg in the national capital region due to limited supplies. However, low-quality onions are still available for Rs 30-40 per kg.

To keep the prices in check in coming days, government agencies SFAC and NAFED have swung into action and started selling onions via Safal and DMS retail outlets in the Delhi-NCR region.

The Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) and the National Agricultural Co-operative Marketing Federation (NAFED) have together procured 7,000-8,000 tonnes of onions from Nasik using the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF).

"We have been selling onions for the last 2-3 days in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) via Mother Dairy's Safal outlets and Delhi Milk Scheme (DMS) booths to increase availability and check prices," SFAC Managing Director Parvesh Sharma told PTI.

Onion prices at Lasalgaon mandi in Nashik, which sets the price trend of bulbs, have also jumped to Rs 31.50 per kg.

"Onions from Rajasthan are being sold at Rs 20-30 per kg while those from Madhya Pradesh and Nashik are available at Rs 30-40 per kg," Azadpur Mandi Onion Traders Association President Surender Budhiraja told PTI.

In the retail market, onions are sold at Rs 50-55 per kg. "At present, we are selling onions at Rs 50-55 per kg and in coming days, it may increase to Rs 70-80 per kg as supply is restricted in mandis," retailer P Ramesh said, who sells onions in South-Delhi.

NAFED has also floated a tender to import 10,000 tonnes of onions. Sharma said, "Efforts are being made to increase availability and curb price rise. We will further increase the supply of onion in the market depending on the prices."

PTI