Centre imports 18,000 tons of onion for states to sell at ₹ 22 per kg

January 15: In a significant development, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said that the union government has procured 18,000 tons of onion and is making them available to the state governments at ₹ 22 per kg.

While addressing media persons in a press conference, Ram Vilas Paswan said, “Around 18,000 tons of onion has been imported now, but even after all the efforts, only 2,000 tons of onion has been sold. We are providing onion at Rs 22/kg now. I have always maintained that the government is making all efforts to make onions available. We are observing the prices and when the time comes we will take action on it.”

The minister further said, “We are bearing the transportation cost of onions and working on ‘no profit, no loss’ policy. So far, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have procured onions from the centre.” The government is importing onions through state-run trading agency MMTC. Imports are being undertaken from Turkey, Afghanistan and Egypt.