New Delhi, October 17: In the midst of skyrocketing prices of onions, tomatoes and potatoes during the festive season, the government has started efforts to control them.
Amid rising prices of three main vegetables across the country, the government has said that onion prices are being stabilized due to release of buffer stock, while efforts are on to moderate prices of tomatoes and potatoes. However, the prices of onions, tomatoes and potatoes are lower than last year.
The Union Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs on Sunday said that onion stocks are being made available in the market on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) basis from the last week of August, with a view to reduce the price and ensure minimum storage.
It is directed to the twin objectives of ensuring loss. As a result, on October 14, the retail onion price in metros has reached in the range of Rs 42 to 57 per kg. At the same time, the all-India average retail price of onion was Rs 37.06 per kg, while the average wholesale rate was Rs 30 per kg.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the price of onion in retail markets on October 14 stood at Rs 42 per kg in Chennai, Rs 44 per kg in Delhi, Rs 45 per kg in Mumbai and Rs 57 per kg in Kolkata.
The ministry said that the buffer stock of onions is being released in those states where the prices are above the all India average and the prices are increasing as compared to the previous month.
The Department of Consumer Affairs said that on October 12, 2021, a total of 67,357 tonnes of onions were released in major markets such as Delhi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Kochi and Raipur.
