Nafed says onion prices will fall to Rs 25/kg in Delhi

Onion prices will come down to Rs 25 a kg in the national capital in the next 10-15 days following a supply boost from Pakistan and increased arrivals from Maharashtra, Nafed Chairman Bijendra Singh said today.

"Prices of onion would come down to a comfortable level of Rs 25 a kg in the next 10 to 15 days," Singh said after flagging off 15 mobile vans which will sell onions at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 a kg in different parts of the state.

"If it does not happen you can question me," the Nafed chief told mediapersons.

He said Delhi is all set to receive additional quantity of onion from Pakistan soon, besides arrival from Maharashtra, the feeder state, would be boosted after harvest of kharif crop. 

"Over 300 tonnes of onion from Pakistan is expected to land at Mundra port in Gujarat tomorrow from where it will come to Delhi soon," Singh said, adding more quantity would arrive from across the border subsequently.

He said wholesale prices of the kitchen staple has shown a decline by up to 20 per cent in the main producing regions of Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon (both in Nashik district of Maharashtra) in last 3-4 days.

Agri cooperative Nafed has pressed into services mobile vans, the number of which will soon be increased to 100 from 15 now.

Also, each van will carry 2,000 kg of onion, up from 500 kgs. Singh said this service would continue till rates come down to a comfortable level.  

The mobile vans are in addition to the five Nafed outlets in Delhi which also sell onion at Rs 35/kg.  

One person can buy not more than two kg of onion from the vans (as also in the Nafed outlets) in a day, he added. Retail prices of onion are ruling over Rs 60/kg in the capital.

On the first day, each mobile outlets will sell 500 kg of onions in colonies like Rohini-Ranibagh, Raja Garden-Kirti Nagar, Janakpuri-Dwarka, ITO-Vidhana Sabha, Mayur Vihar-Samachar Apartments, Moti Bagh-R K Puram, INA-Kidwai Nagar and CGO Complex in Delhi.

It would go to different regions particularly those inhabited by poor each day.

The Centre has agreed to compensate 30 per cent of losses that NAFED would suffer in selling onion at cheaper rates.