Government to purchase 15,000 tonnes of onions due to bumper crop

NEW DELHI: Government will purchase 15,000 tonnes of onions in a move to help the growers in the wake of a bumper crop that has sharply brought down prices, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said this in a brief intervention during the Zero Hour when concern was expressed over the fall in prices affecting the onion growers.

Noting that onion production this year is to the tune of 203 lakh tonnes as against 190 lakh tonnes last year, the Minister said a decision to purchase 15,000 tonnes of the produce has been taken.

He said in Nashik, purchases have already started as there is infrastructre. The Centre has sent teams to all onion producing states including Rajasthan, he added.

The Minister said the states could also purchase the produce under the price stabilisation fund mechanism.

The Food Corporation of India, he said, does not have the proper godowns to store onions and was ready to take them on rent from private sector.

Raising the issue during zero hour, BJP member Manoj Rajouria expressed concern over the plight of the onion growers due to sharp fall in prices. Supported by his party colleagues, he wanted the Centre to intervene to help the farmer.