Paswan directs import of 1,000 tonnes of onions

To ensure availability and keep prices of onions in check in Delhi, union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday directed officials to import 1,000 metric tonnes of onions in addition to earlier imports.

In a meeting held on Thursday with officials from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium and Mother Dairy, Paswan reviewed the prices and availability of onions, an official release said.

It was decided that the market intervention by government agencies would continue and that the Delhi government and Mother Dairy's Safal would continue to supply onions through their outlets.

Currently, 100 metric tonnes of onions are being supplied daily by both agencies in Delhi, the release said.

Regular meetings would be held and a policy strategy would be evolved to keep the prices under check, particularly in Delhi, it added.