Government Sells 4,000 Tonnes of Buffer Onions

Government sells 4,000 tonnes of buffer onions across 17 cities at Rs 35 per kg

The government has sold around 4,000 tonnes of onions from its buffer stock in 17 cities within 10 days, offering the produce at Rs 35 per kg through retail channels. The move aims to ease pressure on consumers after onion prices rose sharply in several parts of the country.

Editor: AI News 24x7 Published: 07 Sep 2026, 12:27 AM Updated: 07 Sep 2026, 12:27 AM

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Government sells 4,000 tonnes of buffer onions across 17 cities at Rs 35 per kg.

The government has sold around 4,000 tonnes of onions from its buffer stock across 17 cities within 10 days, with the produce being offered to consumers at Rs 35 per kg. The intervention follows a sharp rise in onion prices across the country and is intended to provide relief in price-sensitive markets.

The stock is being distributed through the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). Supplies are being moved from producing states to consumption centres in bulk by trucks and through the Kanda Express special train.

Where the subsidised onions are being sold

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare shared the latest sales update on Sunday. The buffer onions were supplied to 17 cities during the first 10 days of the retail programme, with sales reaching about 4,000 tonnes.

The government has selected markets where onion prices are particularly sensitive. Retail sales at Rs 35 per kg are designed to give households an alternative to higher local market rates, although prices continue to vary considerably between cities.

Large consignments have already reached Delhi and Chennai through the Kanda Express. A third shipment was being loaded for Guwahati, according to the update.

NCCF’s share of retail sales

NCCF Managing Director Anis Joseph Chandra said the federation had sold 1,500 tonnes of buffer onions at Rs 35 per kg in different cities. The federation has also reached arrangements with some states to sell through its own stores, mobile vans, cooperative societies and other platforms identified by local administrations.

These channels expand distribution beyond conventional retail outlets. They also allow the subsidised onions to be sold closer to consumers in locations where prices have remained elevated.

Buffer stock and price movement

The central government has maintained a buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions for 2026 through NCCF and NAFED. Releasing part of this stock into retail markets is intended to increase supply in major consumption centres while onion prices remain under pressure.

Department of Consumer Affairs figures show that the all-India average retail price declined after the release began. It fell from Rs 50.79 per kg before the intervention to Rs 48.5 per kg on 28 August.

The reduction in the national average has not produced uniform prices across cities. On 5 September, onions were priced at Rs 58 per kg in Delhi, Rs 53 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 63 per kg in Chennai and Rs 40 per kg in Ranchi. The average wholesale price was Rs 42.79 per kg.

What the figures mean for consumers

The difference between the subsidised rate and prevailing city prices was widest in Chennai, where onions were priced at Rs 63 per kg on 5 September. Delhi and Mumbai also recorded prices above the government’s Rs 35 per kg retail rate, while Ranchi reported a lower price of Rs 40 per kg.

The government said distribution of buffer-stock onions had provided some relief to consumers and contributed to a modest decline in prices. The ongoing movement of consignments to additional cities is the next step in extending that support.

The retail programme is being carried out alongside wholesale movement, giving agencies more than one route to place the buffer stock in consumer markets. The use of trains and trucks is intended to connect producing regions with large consumption centres.

Conclusion

The sale of around 4,000 tonnes of buffer onions at Rs 35 per kg has expanded access to lower-priced produce across 17 cities, while national average prices have eased. However, the city-level figures show that onion prices remain uneven, making continued distribution important for consumers in higher-priced markets.