After Maharashtra, NAFED to buy onions from Gujarat to check prices in wholesale market

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) would start the procurement of kharif onions from Gujarat to address the issue of the commodity's declining pricing in the wholesale market.

The government is taking the step to 'immediately relieve' the farmers and 'stabilise the onion market' in the state.

In a statement, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said, “Taking stock of the situation due to depressed prices of onion in late Kharif season in the state, the Department of Consumer Affairs has directed NAFED to start procurement of onion from three major markets in Gujarat. NAFED will start onion procurement from 09.03.23 in Bhavnagar (Mahua), Gondal and Porbandar.”

“Farmers are requested to bring their good quality and dried stock to the procurement centres to avail of the better rate at these centres. Payments to the farmers will be done online,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government announced on Tuesday a Rs 330 crore support programme for onion and potato farmers who are having trouble selling their products because of a market surplus. For farmers who wanted to export their goods or were willing to sell them outside the state, also included a transportation subsidy.

Last month, Zee Business exclusively reported citing sources from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution that the government is taking inputs from the mandis/wholesale vegetable market for preparing a complete roadmap for the same

There will be more onion procurement facilities established, and the government will increase its onion purchases. The government has initiated departmental-level talks to determine the full procurement strategy for each crop.

Currently, NAFED buys around 200 MTs of red onions from Nashik and sends it to Delhi. The Consumer Affairs Department has directed NAFED to purchase Kharif season onions in and around Nashik, revealed the sources. Thus, onions will be sent from here to other areas where the price or consumption is high.