Onion prices stable, showing a decline: Govt panel

Onion prices have stabilised and showing declining trend with the arrival of kharif (summer sown) crops, the government on Tuesday said after reviewing the rates of essential commodities.

Retail prices of onion and tomatoes have been ruling high in the Delhi-NCR market on supply constraints. Tomato prices reached up to Rs 80 per kg while onion was costing Rs 60 per kg last week.

The 18th meeting of the group constituted for monitoring cartelisation, hoarding, speculative trading etc with respect to essential food items such as pulses, onion, tomato and oilseeds was held under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Avinash K Srivastava here.

Representatives from Ministry of Agriculture, Intelligence Bureau, Delhi Police, NAFED, DGFT, Ministry of External Affairs, Delhi Government attended the meeting.

The representatives briefed the group about the prevailing scenario with respect to essential food items.

"It was informed by representatives of Agriculture that arrivals of Kharif onions have started and prices have since shown stable to declining trend."