Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Thursday launched the retail sale of onions at Rs 24 per kg in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad through outlets and mobile vans of NCCF, NAFED and Kendriya Bhandar and also through distribution partners of NAFED and NCCF as part of the government’s policy to control prices of essential goods. 

The coverage will be widened and diversified across the country as per the trend in onion prices.

The government is monitoring the daily prices of 38 commodities, including onion, reported from 574 centres across the country. The daily price data and the comparative trends constitute key inputs for decisions on the quantum and destinations for release of onions from the buffer, the minister said.

The calibrated and targeted disposal of onions from the buffer is an integral part of the government’s efforts to control food inflation and maintain a stable price regime.

Joshi said that keeping food inflation under control is a priority of the Government of India, and various direct interventions through price stabilisation measures have played an important role in bringing down inflation in recent months. The general retail inflation for July 2025 at 1.55 per cent, lowest in nearly eight years, is attributed to substantial decline in food inflation.

Onion production in this year is estimated at 307.71 lakh tonnes which is about 27 per cent higher than the previous year. No duty or restrictions are imposed on the export of onion and the pace of export is steady with 1.06 lakh tonnes in July and 1.09 lakh tonnes exported in August, 2025.

Considering the availability and price scenario, the government procured 3 lakh tonnes onion for price stabilisation buffer through NCCF and NAFED.

The onions were procured from growers and farmers’ federations in major rabi onion producing areas in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and payments for the onions have been made through direct transfer to the farmers’ accounts.

An integrated system for monitoring of procurement, storage and disposal has been adopted in onion operation this year by deploying technology capturing activities across all the stages of operations.

In order to ensure transparency in onion procurement, genuineness of farmers and their land records have been verified through e-mahabhumi, the official portal of the Maharashtra government.

Payments to farmers are made through their Aadhaar seeded bank accounts. To ensure quantity and quality, regular visits are undertaken by the officers from the Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Food & Public Distribution and National Test House to verify the stock of onions in storage warehouses. Payments to farmers are made for quantities which have been moved to chawls and duly verified.