Onion: After witnessing a significant increase in tomato prices across the country, it seems that another vegetable might burden people’s pockets. The rising prices of tomatoes have alerted the government, prompting them to take action regarding onions. Rohit Kumar Singh, the Consumer Affairs Secretary, announced that the government has procured 3 lakh tonnes of onions for the buffer stock this year, representing a 20% increase compared to the previous year.
3 Lakh Tonnes of Onions Procured to Address Rising Prices
To ensure the long-term preservation of the onions, radiation testing has been conducted in collaboration with the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC). In the financial year 2022-23, the government maintained a buffer stock of 2.51 lakh tonnes of onions.
BARC Collaborates for Onion Quality Assurance
The purpose of increasing the buffer stock of onions is to address significant price hikes that may occur during periods of short supply. Singh stated that this substantial increase in the buffer stock has been made to handle any emergency situation that may arise during the festive season. The procurement of 3 lakh tonnes of onions for the buffer stock is sourced from the recently concluded rabi season. Currently, onion cultivation is underway in the kharif season, and its arrival is expected to begin in October.
Government Boosts Buffer Stock to Tackle Short Supply and Festive Season Demand
In the financial year 2022-23, the government procured a record-breaking 2.51 lakh metric tonnes of onions from the Rabi-2022 crop under the Price Stabilization Fund (PSF). These onions were distributed to major locations between September 2022 and January 2023. Rabi onions, cultivated from April to June, contribute to 65% of India’s total onion production. According to government data, the average retail price of onions on July 15 was Rs 26.79 per kg, with a maximum of Rs 65 per kg and a minimum of Rs 10 per kg.
