Business.Business: To curb the rising prices of onion, the central government will start its retail sale at a discounted rate of Rs 35 per kg through mobile vans and NCCF retail shops in Delhi-NCR from Thursday. A government statement said that Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi will launch the retail sale of onion from Krishi Bhawan.
It said that the sale through mobile vans will be done at 38 locations including Krishi Bhawan, NCUI Complex, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, Patel Chowk Metro Station and parts of Noida. The market intervention is aimed at improving local supply and curbing the rising prices of this staple food used in the kitchen. At present, onion is selling at a price of more than Rs 60 per kg in the national capital.
NCCF has maintained a buffer stock of onions procured directly from farmers of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. To protect consumers from excessive prices and prevent middlemen from making unexpected profits, the same onion will be sold for retail sale at a discounted rate of Rs 35 per kg. NCCF said that by directly contacting the farmers and offering onions at subsidized rates, it is playing a vital role in reducing the impact of price fluctuation on consumers.
