Subsidised Nafed onions selling like hot cakes in Delhi

Subsidised onions priced at Rs 35 a kg by agri-cooperative Nafed is selling like hot cakes in the national capital, following which the agency has increased the number of such mobile vans from today.

"Onions of all 20 mobile vans (carrying about 500 kg each) were sold out within two hours of setting out in the morning," Nafed chairman Bijendra Singh said.

"One person is not permitted to buy more than two kg of onion from the vans (as also in the Nafed outlets) in a day."

Singh, who is also a Delhi MLA, had yesterday flagged off 15 such mobile vans. These vans are scheduled to venture out at 10 AM and sell the vegetable till 6 PM in the evening.

A total of 7,500 kg of onion in the 15 vans were sold yesterday in different parts of Delhi before sunset.  

Enthused by the good response, Nafed, the apex cooperative organisation, which regulates onion exports in the country, today added five more vans (each carrying about 500 kg onions).

This takes the total number of vehicles plying in different areas to 20, particularly JJ colonies, Nafed sources said. The Nafed chairman said that by Tuesday, the number of vans would go up to 50-60.

He said efforts are on to acquire permission to ply matadors (that can carry about 2000 kg onions) in Delhi soon.

The mobile vans are in addition to the five outlets of the national agri-cooperatives selling the kitchen staple at the same rate of Rs 35/kg since December 21 in different localities of the national capital. 

Retail prices of onion are ruling at Rs 50-60/kg in the capital.

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