6 days ago
Government Rejects Onion Export Curbs, Starts ₹35/kg Buffer Sales
The government says there are enough onions available in the country.
Because onion prices often rise during festivals, it is selling some stored onions more cheaply.
These onions are being sold for ₹35 per kilogram.
Mobile vans and shops in Delhi have started selling them.
The government is also sending onions to cities across the country by train and road.
It says it does not need to stop onion exports right now.
Officials warned that people who hoard onions or sell them illegally could face action.
The goal is to keep onions affordable while festive demand increases.
The government ruled out new onion export restrictions, saying domestic availability is sufficient.
Buffer-stock onions are being sold at ₹35 per kg to limit seasonal and festive price increases.
The latest all-India average onion retail price was ₹37.87 per kg on 26 August.
Sales began through NCCF and NAFED mobile vans and outlets, plus Safal and Kendriya Bhandar outlets in Delhi.
The government is transporting onions by rail and road, while warning against hoarding and black marketing.
- Who
- The Union government, led on this issue by Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, along with NCCF and NAFED.
- What
- The government began selling buffer-stock onions at ₹35 per kg and ruled out fresh export curbs.
- Where
- Sales began in Delhi, while onions are being moved to major consumption centres including Chennai, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu and Amritsar.
- When
- The announcement was made on Thursday; the latest cited average retail price was recorded on 26 August.
- Why
- To prevent sharp seasonal and festive price increases and maintain affordable domestic supplies while availability remains comfortable.
Key facts
- Buffer-stock sale price
- ₹35 per kg
- Latest average retail price
- ₹37.87 per kg on 26 August
- Estimated onion production
- 307.37 lakh tonnes in 2025-26, compared with 307.67 lakh tonnes in 2024-25
- Onion procurement
- Around 1.21 lakh tonnes procured against a 2 lakh-tonne target for the price stabilization fund buffer
- Delhi sales network
- 40 NCCF mobile vans, 50 NAFED mobile vans, 9 NCCF outlets, 13 NAFED outlets and around 100 Kendriya Bhandar outlets
- Recent exports
- Approximately 3.82 lakh tonnes during April-June, mainly to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Nepal
- Government warning
- Authorities said action would be taken against hoarding and black marketing that creates artificial scarcity
Quotes
Nidhi Khare
Consumer affairs secretary of India
“The government is moving onions by both rail and road to major consumption centres, including Chennai, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu and Amritsar.”
livemint.com
“Onion availability is comfortable to meet domestic demand in the coming months.”
livemint.com
Sources
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