People troubled by rising onion prices in Delhi-NCR may get relief soon. The central government is preparing to sell onions at a concessional rate of Rs 35 per kg in Delhi and surrounding areas by the end of this week. The aim of the government is to increase the availability of onion in the market and to control the rising retail prices.
According to government officials, different places for the sale of onions in Delhi-NCR will soon be decided. After this, onions will be made available directly to the people through mobile vans at the rate of Rs 35 per kg. If needed, the scope of this campaign can be extended to other cities outside Delhi-NCR.
Onion will be launched in the markets first
The government's strategy is not limited to just selling cheap onions to the people. First of all, efforts will be made to provide adequate supply of onion to big markets, so that the pressure on prices in the wholesale market is reduced. According to an official of the Consumer Affairs Department, the first priority of the government is to unload onions in large quantities in major mandis.
This is expected to reduce wholesale prices and its effect may gradually be visible on the retail market as well. The government believes that when the availability of onion increases in the markets, it will help in controlling the prices in the markets of Delhi-NCR also.
Onion will reach these cities including Delhi through 'Kanda Express'
To increase the supply of onion, the central government has started running 'Kanda Express' trains from Monday. Through these trains, onions are being transported from Nashik in Maharashtra to the major consuming cities of the country. These include cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Madurai and Guwahati. The government has already taken such initiative and it has helped in taking onion to big markets in a short time. Nashik is included in the major onion producing areas of the country. In such a situation, sending onions directly from there to big consumption centers can help in strengthening the supply chain and controlling prices.
Cheap onion will reach people directly from mobile van
The government is planning to sell onions through mobile vans in many areas of Delhi-NCR. Through these vans, onions will be made available to the people at lower prices than the market. This type of system has already been implemented in Delhi-NCR and according to the government, its positive effect was seen. The government can deliver onions directly to the consumers through mobile vans, which is expected to provide some relief to the people from the increased retail prices.
Onion price increased by Rs 20 in a year in Delhi
There has been a significant increase in onion prices in the last one year. According to available government data, onion is being sold at around Rs 55 per kg in Delhi, whereas in the same period a year ago, its price was around Rs 35 per kg. That means there has been a difference of about Rs 20 per kg in the price of onion in one year. The increase in the price of this essential vegetable used in daily food also affects the household budget of common families.
If needed, cheap onion will be available in other cities also
The central government has indicated that this campaign will not be limited to Delhi-NCR only. If the retail price of onion in any other city is higher than the national average, then the government can intervene in the market there also. This means that in cities where the price of onion increases, the government can use its buffer stock to launch onion in the market and concessional sales can be started as per the need.
There is no shortage of onion in the country, then why is the price increasing?
According to the government, the availability of onion in the country is currently sufficient to meet the domestic requirement in the coming months. Onion production in 2025-26 is estimated to be around 307 lakh tonnes, which is almost equal to last year's production of around 308 lakh tonnes. Apart from this, the government also has buffer stock of onion. If needed, prices can be controlled by releasing this stock in the market. This means that at present the increase in onion prices is not being considered merely due to a major reduction in production. The government is using buffer stock keeping in mind the supply and market conditions.
Why do onion prices start increasing from August-September?
Onion prices fluctuate every year around August-September. There are many reasons for this. During this period, demand increases during the festive season, while the weather can affect the crop and supply. Apart from this, the time taken to deliver onions to different states, transportation system and condition of the supply chain also affect the prices. Even if there is a slight difference in demand and availability, the retail prices of onion can go up rapidly.
What is the government's effort?
If we understand the current strategy of the government in simple language, its focus is on three levels – first, to quickly transport onions from major producing areas like Nashik in Maharashtra to big cities; Second, to control wholesale prices by unloading adequate quantities of onion in major mandis; And thirdly, to provide onion at a concessional rate of Rs 35 per kg to the common people through mobile vans when needed. If this scheme remains effective then people can get relief from the rising prices of onion in Delhi-NCR in the coming days.