“Earlier, we decided to send our officers to Pakistan for importing 2,200 tonnes of onion. However, as the prices have started declining, we have deferred the onion import plan for the time being,” NAFED chairman Bijender Singh told reporters.
NAFED had started imports and written to the State governments, saying it was ready to provide any amount of onions they required. To provide relief to the common man, it had started selling the kitchen staple at Rs. 40 a kg through 25 stores in Delhi. It was also supplying onions to Mother Dairy, DMS, the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited and Kendriya Bhandars for distribution through their retail outlets.
Officials said that since the availability had increased in the domestic market, the prices are expected to decline further and it would not be feasible for the NAFED to look for imports now. To rein in the prices, the government suspended exports and abolished import duties on onion.
Secretary, Consumers Affairs, Rajiv Aggarwal said the retail prices were likely to come down shortly after a drastic fall in the commodity’s wholesale rates.
The NCCF told the Tamil Nadu government that it was ready to sell medium-grade onion at Rs. 25-30 a kg in the retail market. It was for the State to take the call.
According to data compiled by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the average retail price stood at Rs. 51.4 a kg. The highest was reported from Mumbai at Rs. 72, followed by Tiruchirapalli and Itanagar (Rs. 70).