The government on Thursday launched retail sales of onions at ₹24 per kilogram in select cities, in a bid to stabilise prices during the festive season and ensure affordable access to essential vegetables. The initiative, flagged off by Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi, involves the distribution of onions through the outlets and mobile vans of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF), and Kendriya Bhandar.
Speaking in New Delhi, Joshi said the first consignment of 25 tonnes of onions has been dispatched for sale in major urban centres. The decision comes against the backdrop of retail onion prices crossing ₹30 per kilogram in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. The government expects the move to offer immediate relief to consumers preparing for the festive season.
Alongside onions, tomatoes are also being made available at ₹30 per kilogram through the same channels. The minister explained that the government procures these vegetables from the market and supplies them at moderated rates, balancing farmer interests with consumer needs.
At present, India has a buffer stock of about 3 lakh tonnes of onions, of which nearly 72 per cent remains to be released. The government is monitoring daily price movements of onions and other essential commodities to determine the timing and quantum of stock releases. Price data from 574 centres across the country feed into these decisions, officials said.
According to Joshi, the sale of onions and tomatoes at subsidised rates is part of a broader strategy to ensure affordability during periods of heightened demand. The seasonal nature of onion supply, influenced heavily by monsoon conditions, often triggers sharp price fluctuations. The buffer stock mechanism, managed by NAFED and NCCF, is designed to counter these swings by intervening in the market at critical moments.
The minister emphasised that the government has consistently worked to make essential food items available at reasonable rates during festivals, when household budgets typically come under additional pressure. In past years, similar interventions have been credited with preventing steep spikes in onion prices, a politically sensitive issue given the staple’s significance in Indian kitchens.
Consumers in Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad can now purchase onions at ₹24 per kilogram and tomatoes at ₹30 per kilogram through a combination of fixed outlets and mobile vans deployed by NAFED, NCCF, and Kendriya Bhandar. These mobile units are expected to improve reach, especially in congested urban areas.
The retail sale comes as the government tracks prices of 38 essential commodities, including pulses, cereals, edible oils, and vegetables. Monitoring these commodities allows policymakers to respond to sudden disruptions in supply chains, whether due to weather conditions, transport bottlenecks, or speculative trading.
Officials noted that onion price volatility is not uncommon during the transition between rabi and kharif crops, when stored stock is critical for bridging demand until fresh harvests arrive. This year’s stockpile of 3 lakh tonnes was built with such seasonal fluctuations in mind, allowing the government to step in as prices began to inch upward.
Joshi said the intervention would benefit millions of households ahead of Navratri, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. He described the decision as a proactive measure to keep inflation in check while ensuring fair returns to farmers. The government is expected to calibrate further releases of onions and tomatoes in the coming weeks, depending on demand trends and supply conditions.
The move underscores the importance of buffer stock management in India’s food economy, balancing consumer affordability with agricultural sustainability. For now, onions at ₹24 per kilogram and tomatoes at ₹30 per kilogram promise some relief to households bracing for festive expenses.
