Government to up onion supply to Delhi

New Delhi : The Consumer Affairs Ministry on Friday decided to increase the daily supply of onion from the buffer stock to the national capital to keep prices at a "moderate" level.

A high-level committee led by Consumer Affairs Secretary A.K. Srivastava observed that the wholesale prices of onions that had peaked during mid-October had now moderated "marginally".

It decided to increase the supply from the existing buffer created under Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) to check the prices from shooting up.

Last week, the prices rose to Rs 40 a kg in retail. On Friday, it was Rs 33 per kg as per official data.

The committee also advised the Delhi government to supply onion through PDS outlets to reduce the gap between wholesale and retail prices.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the sown area under the kharif onion crop had increased by 37 percent this year as compared to 2017.

It said the onion supply in the market was improving as harvesting had begun in Rajasthan, Sholapur in Maharashtra, Hubli in Karnataka and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, which will ease the prices in days to come.