Onion price slashed in state-run fair price outlets

With prices of onion easing in the open market, the West Bengal government has slashed the rates of the commodity from Rs 50 to Rs 45 at all state-run fair price outlets.
"Onions will now be available at Rs 45 per kg," state Agriculture Marketing Minister Arup Roy told PTI today.
In the wake of a steep hike in onion prices, the state government earlier started selling the kitchen staple at a subsidised rate of Rs 50 per kg from 49 government outlets in the city and its outskirts.
The chief minister had directed officials to crack down on illegal hoarders. She also had asked the task force to visit markets to ensure that people were not charged exorbitantly.

Roy said that one would be able to buy 500 gram packet of onion per day as usual from the government outlets, which will continue selling onions at subsidised rate till prices are eased.
Stating that the crisis was gradually being resolved, the minister said that the wholesale price of onions at present came down to Rs 45 to Rs 50 per kg, while the retail prices came down to Rs 60 per kg.

To a question, Roy said, "The state can produce only four lakh tonnes of onion against its demand of 8.5 lakh tonnes annually."
"West Bengal earlier produced only one lakh tonne of onion, which has gone up to four lakh tonnes with special initiative of the chief minister Mamata Banerjee," he said.

"We have to depend on Maharashtra and Karnataka for to fill the gap in our demand for the commodity. Onion price will go down further after fresh produce enters the market in early November," Roy said.