- Government begins calibrated release of onion buffer stocks to major consumption centres.
- First Kanda Express carrying onions has departed from Nashik for New Delhi.
- NCCF, NAFED and Kendriya Bhandar will sell onions at ₹35 per kg.
- Around 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions have been procured for the 2026-27 buffer.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Aug: The government has started the calibrated and targeted release of onions from its buffer stock to ensure adequate availability and contain seasonal price pressures ahead of the festive and wedding season.
The onions are being transported through a hybrid railway and road network, with supplies being directed to major consumption centres based on market conditions and price trends.
The first Kanda Express carrying buffer onions has departed from Nashik for New Delhi. Road supplies are simultaneously being sent to Chennai, Kolkata, Ernakulam, Guwahati, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, Chandigarh, Jammu and Amritsar.
The government estimates onion production at 307.37 lakh tonnes (LMT) in 2025-26, broadly comparable with 307.67 LMT in the previous year. For the 2026-27 Price Stabilization Fund buffer, the government set a procurement target of 2 LMT of Rabi onions. Around 1.21 LMT has already been procured through NAFED and NCCF.
Retail onions will be sold at ₹35 per kg through NCCF and NAFED outlets and mobile vans, along with Safal and Kendriya Bhandar outlets. NCCF will operate nine outlets and 40 mobile vans, while NAFED will use 13 outlets and 50 mobile vans. About 100 Kendriya Bhandar outlets will also participate.
The government said the Kanda Express has expanded significantly in recent years. While 14 railway rakes transported nearly 12,000 tonnes to five cities in 2024-25, the figure increased to 86 rakes carrying around 88,000 tonnes to 16 cities in 2025-26.
Onion exports also remained strong, with approximately 3.82 LMT exported between April and June 2026, mainly to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, the UAE and Nepal.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is monitoring prices of 41 essential commodities, including onions, across 579 centres daily. The all-India average retail price of onion stood at ₹37.87 per kg on August 26.
The government said further releases from the buffer stock will be calibrated according to market conditions to maintain adequate supplies, moderate price pressures and protect consumer interests while ensuring remunerative returns for farmers.
