5 days ago
Buffer Stock Release Sends Lasalgaon Onion Prices Lower
Onion prices in shops had become expensive, reaching ₹60 to ₹70 per kilogram.
To help shoppers, the Centre decided to send onions from its stored supply to Delhi.
The planned amount was 840 tonnes.
After this news, onion prices at the Lasalgaon market fell by about ₹450 per quintal.
Farmers worry that lower prices could reduce their earnings.
Only about 453 tonnes were reportedly sent to Delhi on Wednesday.
A political leader also alleged that some stored onions were small, low-grade, and spoiled.
The government is trying to help shoppers while also dealing with farmers’ concerns.
The Centre announced the release of 840 tonnes of buffer-stock onions for Delhi to ease retail prices of ₹60–₹70 per kg.
Average onion prices at Lasalgaon APMC fell by about ₹450 per quintal after the planned release was reported.
Lasalgaon onions averaged ₹4,251 per quintal on Monday, August 24, before prices came under pressure.
Only about 453 metric tonnes were reportedly dispatched to Delhi on Wednesday, compared with the planned 840 tonnes.
Farmers raised concerns that further releases could reduce producer earnings, while allegations were made about spoiled, lower-grade onions in government warehouses.
- Who
- The Centre, onion farmers, traders, and consumers are involved; Ganesh Nimbalkar of the Prahar Janshakti Party made allegations about the stored onions.
- What
- The Centre released buffer-stock onions for Delhi, after which wholesale prices at Lasalgaon fell; only about 453 of the planned 840 metric tonnes were reportedly dispatched.
- Where
- The price impact was reported at the Lasalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee in Maharashtra, while the onions were being sent to Delhi.
- When
- The price was reported at ₹4,251 per quintal on Monday, August 24, and the partial dispatch was reported on Wednesday.
- Why
- The release was intended to provide relief to urban consumers facing retail onion prices of ₹60–₹70 per kg.
Consumer Relief and Price Control
Farmer Earnings and Market Prices
Purpose of releasing buffer stock
Consumer Relief and Price Control
The Centre’s intervention is intended to increase supply and protect urban consumers from rising onion prices.
Farmer Earnings and Market Prices
Farmers and traders are concerned that additional releases in Delhi and other cities could put further pressure on wholesale prices and reduce growers’ earnings.
Handling of stored onions
Consumer Relief and Price Control
The government planned to dispatch 840 tonnes through NAFED and NCCF, but the release was presented as a measure to supply cheaper onions to consumers.
Farmer Earnings and Market Prices
Ganesh Nimbalkar alleged that lower-grade, small-sized onions had been stored, that some had spoiled, and that labour shortages or reluctance to handle them contributed to the shortfall in dispatches.
Key facts
- Planned release
- 840 tonnes of onions were to be sent to Delhi from buffer stock.
- Reported dispatch
- About 453 metric tonnes were reportedly dispatched to Delhi on Wednesday.
- Retail prices
- Domestic retail onion prices had reached ₹60–₹70 per kg.
- Lasalgaon rate
- The average price was ₹4,251 per quintal on Monday, August 24.
- Price decline
- The average Lasalgaon rate fell by approximately ₹450 per quintal.
- Distribution agencies
- The buffer onions were expected to enter Delhi through NAFED and NCCF.
- Storage allegations
- Ganesh Nimbalkar alleged that some lower-grade onions had spoiled in government warehouses.
Sources
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