Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated the federal government had intervened and acquired onions from farmers in Maharashtra when the costs crashed.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
The Union authorities on Thursday (August 27, 2026) blamed “black advertising and marketing, hoarding and profiteering” for the growing worth of onions throughout the nation and stated the important vegetable can be made out there for retail sale at a reduced worth of ₹35 per kg by designated cell vans in cities equivalent to Delhi. On Thursday (August 27), the worth for a kg of onion within the Delhi market was ₹62.
Additionally learn | Centre hikes onion procurement price by 13%
The Client Affairs Ministry stated the Nationwide Agricultural Cooperative Advertising Federation of India Restricted (Nafed), and the Nationwide Cooperative Shoppers’ Federation of India Restricted (NCCF) will promote the onions by its retail shops and the Kendriya Bhandars below the worth stabilisation measures.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated middlemen are the explanation for the rise in onion costs and the farmers ought to get an inexpensive revenue whereas the shoppers ought to get the product at an inexpensive fee.
Farmers’ chief Rakesh Tikait had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to Mr. Chouhan that onion farmers have been getting a worth as little as ₹1 per kg of onion and had demanded fast authorities intervention. “This was the identical case with potatoes too. The federal government ought to have requested Nafed and NCCF to acquire onions from farmers at a fee of no less than ₹10 per kg. Had they finished this, such a scenario wouldn’t have arisen,” Mr. Tikait informed The Hindu.
Mr. Chouhan stated the federal government had intervened and acquired onions from farmers in Maharashtra when the costs crashed. “Now, farmers shouldn’t have onions with them as shares have been bought from their finish, and retail costs have touched ₹60 per kg. Are farmers getting the actual worth for his or her onerous work? Do middlemen have the correct to profiteer from farmers’ efforts? The federal government is taking motion,” the Minister stated addressing an occasion.
Union Client Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare maintained that the costs have elevated due to black advertising and marketing, hoarding and profiteering. Including that there’s sufficient provide of onions to satisfy demand through the festive season, she stated the Union authorities shouldn’t be contemplating placing a ban on onion exports, as there isn’t a downside of provide.
On Wednesday (August 26), the federal government stated it had began a calibrated and focused launch of onions from the buffer inventory to make sure sufficient availability and average seasonal worth pressures within the coming months. “The intervention is being undertaken by a hybrid mannequin of transportation comprising railway rakes and highway transport, with provides being directed to main consumption centres based mostly on prevailing market situations and worth traits,” it stated.
Printed – August 27, 2026 10:22 pm IST
