The Centre announced that as part of its market intervention strategy, a fifth bulk shipment of 720 tons of buffer onions is scheduled to arrive in the national capital on November 21. This initiative aims to stabilize onion prices and has been ongoing since last month, marking the first time buffer onions from Maharashtra are being transported to Delhi via railways. So far, 4,010 tons have been dispatched for retail sale at approximately $0.42 per kilogram.
"Another shipment of 720 tons, the fifth in the series, departed Nashik yesterday and is expected to reach Delhi by November 21," an official statement mentioned. From the previous shipment, allocations have been made to Mother Dairy, NCCF, and Nafed for retail distribution across Delhi-NCR. The government has observed a significant impact on onion prices in Delhi from these bulk shipments.
Efforts to regulate onion prices are not limited to Delhi. Shipments have also been sent to Chennai and Guwahati, with plans for more dispatches, including to Lucknow. Following supply constraints and mandi closures during the festival season, the government has increased onion disposal. Nafed and NCCF are preparing for additional shipments, with increased road transport and releases from Sonipat cold storage to serve the northern region. Out of the 517,000 tons of buffer stock this year, 150,000 tons have already been disposed of.
Source: Business Standard