This decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the Minister last evening to review onion prices. The Minister directed the officials to keep a close watch on the price situation and take other appropriate measures like discouraging the export of the commodity, if required. The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Shri Rajiv Agarwal, Managing Director of NAFED, Managing Director of NCCF and other senior officials.
The Ministry also had discussion about the issue in the recently held meeting of Committee of Secretaries. It was decided to have fortnightly review to keep a close watch on the price situation.
Estimated total onion production for 2011-12 will be 151.36 lakh tonnes which will be higher than the last year’s production of 145.62 lakh tonnes. But due to rain in some parts of the country and delayed sowing of kharif crop, trends of higher prices have been noticed recently.
India
Instruction issued to keep Onion Prices under Check
Special Correspondent - 2011-09-06 13:52
New Delhi: Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has directed NAFED and NCCF to intervene in the market immediately to keep the onion prices under check. Outlets of both the agencies in Delhi will sell onions at the rate of Rs. 20 per kg. The State Governments are also being requested to take similar steps for market intervention through their agencies.