Govt procures 3 lakh tonnes of onion for buffer stock; 20% higher than last year

The government has procoured 3 lakh tonnes of onion, a 20 per cent increase from last year's buffer stock, and is also testing the irradiation of onion with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to extend shelf life, said Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on Sunday.

In the 2022-23 fiscal, the government had maintained 2.51 lakh tonnes of onion as buffer stock.

The buffer stock is maintained under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) to meet any exigencies, if rates go up significantly during the lean supply season.


"To meet any eventuality in the festival season, the government this year developed a robust buffer to an extent of 3 lakh tonnes. There is no problem with onions," Singh told PTI.

Onion that is procured for the buffer stock is from the just completed rabi season. Presently, the kharif onion sowing is underway and its arrival begins in October.

Currently, Onion is being procured from the just completed rabi season. The sowing of Kharif onion is underway and its arrival will start in October.

The Secretary said, "Usually, onion prices in the retail markets come under pressure for 20 days or so till the fresh kharif crop hits the market. But this time, there won't be a problem."

Together with the Department of Atomic Energy and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Consumer Affairs Ministry is testing a technology for storing onions in the meantime.

"On a pilot basis, we are experimenting with onion irradiation of 150 tonnes with gamma radiation from Cobalt-60 at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra. This will increase the shelf life of onions," Singh said.

In 2022-23, the government had procured a record 2.51 lakh metric tonnes of onions from Rabi-2022 crop under the PSF and released it in major consumption centres during September 2022 and January 2023.

65 per cent of India's onion production comes from Rabi onion harvested during April-June. It meets the consumers' demand till the Kharif crop is harvested in October-November.

According to government data, the average onion retail price across the country was Rs 26.79 per kg on July 15; the maximum price was Rs 65 per kg, and the lowest price was Rs 10 per kg.

(With inputs from PTI)