The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, has announced the shipment of 1,600 MT of onions, procured by the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) under the price stabilization fund. This shipment, comprising 42 BCN wagons (approximately 53 trucks), is being transported by the Kanda fast train from Nashik to Delhi NCR. This marks the first instance of bulk onion transport by rail as part of a price stabilization initiative. The shipment is expected to arrive by October 20, 2024, significantly boosting onion availability for consumers during the festive season.
During a press briefing, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, noted that using railways for onion transport will become increasingly important, with more destinations added to expedite distribution. Shipments by rail to Lucknow and Varanasi are planned in the coming days. The Department has also requested Indian Railways to facilitate the transport of onion rakes from Nashik to multiple locations in the North-Eastern region, including New Jalpaiguri, Dibrugarh, New Tinsukia, and Changsari. This initiative aims to ensure wider onion availability across India at reasonable prices.
This year, the government procured 470,000 tons of rabi onions for the price stabilization buffer, beginning sales on September 5, 2024, at Rs. 35 per kg through retail and major mandis. To date, approximately 92,000 MT from the buffer has been dispatched from Nashik and other centers via road transport. NCCF has reached 77 destinations in 21 states, while NAFED has covered 43 destinations in 16 states for onion distribution. They have partnered with retail chains like SAFAL, Kendriya Bhandar, and Reliance Retail to sell onions at Rs. 35 per kg. Additionally, 86,500 MT has been allocated to nine state governments and cooperative societies for retail distribution.
Since the start of onion disposal, the upward trend in onion prices has been significantly curbed. Average retail prices in major states, including UP, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Telangana, have decreased recently compared to the first week of September 2024. Mandi prices in Lasalgaon fell from a peak of Rs. 47 per kg on September 24 to Rs. 40 per kg on October 15, 2024.
The NCCF’s initiative for bulk rail transport of onions is a crucial step in ensuring a steady market supply. Rail transport offers a cost-effective and efficient means of delivering onions to consumer centers, facilitating timely and reliable distribution across various regions.
Regarding tomatoes, the Secretary of Consumer Affairs attributed the recent price surge to excessive rainfall and high moisture levels in key tomato-producing states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Adverse weather conditions and disease outbreaks have affected both harvests and shelf life. However, supply is expected to improve soon with increased arrivals from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which should help lower tomato prices.
(Source: PIB)
