Maharashtra to organise daily supply of 400 tonne of onion to Delhi

Maharashtra, which contributes 40% to the national onion output, is alone in a position to supply the quantity at Rs 4,200-4,300 per quintal

Delhiites will have to wait for at least next 10 days for a daily supply of 1,000 tonne of onions. 

 

Maharashtra, which contributes 40% to the national onion output, is alone in a position to supply 400 tonne at Rs 4,200-4,300 per quintal. 

 

The retail price will be between Rs 53 to 60 per kg depending on various charges towards transportation, labour and fees. However, Delhi government will have to organize the balance quantity from the Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

 

Poll-bound Delhi government team accompanied by the union agriculture secretary were on a three day visit in the onion growing areas of Maharashtra where they held series of meetings to know the ground realities and the resumption of regular onion supply. 

 

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit may visit Nashik, Lasalgaon and adjoining onion growing areas within a week. Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan also indicated that the situation will improve in next two to three weeks.

 

Changdeo Holkar, director, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Fedration of India Limited (NAFED) told Business Standard: "Heavy rains have affected crops in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Maharashtra is the largest producer of onions followed by Karnataka, AP, Gujarat, and MP. Onion annually spread over Rabi (March-June), Kharif (September-November) and late Kharif (December-February). Over 60% production is from Rabi.''

 

He said that there is some shortage in the kharif onion crop in Maharashtra due to extended rainfall. However, the situation will improve with the arrival of late kharif crop. Maharashtra produces 1.2 million ton of onions annually. Apart froom Nashik the other onion growing regions include Pune, Ahmednagar, Satara, Solapur and Pune.

 

Holkar, who is the former chairman NAFED, said the onion growers from Nashik have assured the Delhi team that they will be able to supply 400 tonne after Dilwali as the market is closed. He recalled that during similar crisis in 1998 he along with the local onion growers had organised the supply of 300 tonne from Maharashtra and Karnataka to Delhi. Moreover, another 250 tonne was supplied to N Chandrababu led government in Andhra Pradesh in 1999.

 

He said Delhi government should have stored onion well in advance considering the assembly elections.