Centre Procures Record 2.5 Lakh Tonne Onions For Price Stabilisation Buffer

The Centre has procured record 2.5 lakh tonne of onion for the buffer in 2022-23 in a bid to control the rise in the price of the vegetable.

The onion buffer size in current year is 0.5 lakh tonne higher than the 2 lakh tonne created during 2021-22.

The onions were procured from current rabi harvest for the price stabilisation buffer, a Consumer Affairs Ministry release said on Friday (15 July).

The stocks have been procured by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) from farmers through the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in rabi onion growing states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

"The stocks will be released through targeted open market sales and also offered to states and UTs and government agencies for supplies through retail outlets during the lean months (August-December) to moderate price rise," the ministry said.

Open market releases will be targeted towards states and cities where prices are increasing over the previous month and also in key mandis to augment the overall availability, it added.

The price stabilisation buffer serves the twin objectives of providing remunerative prices to onion farmers and augmenting the availability of onions at affordable prices to the consumers.

Onion is a semi perishable vegetable and post-harvest losses due to physiological weight loss, rotting, sprouting etc. are estimated to be substantial.

Rabi onion harvested during April-June accounts for 65 per cent of India’s onion production and meets the consumer’s demand till kharif crop is harvested from October-November, the ministry said, adding that it is therefore vital to successfully store onion to ensure the regular supply.

Further, to address the post-harvest losses of onions including loss on account of sub-optimal storage and processing, the Department of Consumer Affairs has announced a Grand Challenge for development of “Technologies for Primary Processing, Storage and Valorisation of Onions”.

The Department of Consumer Affairs is engaging with students, researchers and start-ups to develop a strategy for minimising post-harvest losses in onions, the ministry said.