NOIDA: The National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India (NCCF) started selling onions at subsidised rates — Rs 25 per kg — in Noida and Greater Noida from Tuesday. NCCF, which runs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, dispatched ten vans loaded with 1,000 kg of onion in different sectors.Presently, onions are sold for Rs 80-100 per kg in retail shops.According to Madhu Sharma, branch head of NCCF Noida, the Federation usually sells onion, potatoes, tomatoes, dal, etc at subsidised rates in case of a price hike. The price of onions has recently shot up at retail stores. We received directions from our headquarters to sell onion to local people in Noida and Ghaziabad for Rs 25 per kg, she said.On Tuesday, the Noida branch dispatched the onions to several areas of the district, including sectors 16, 62, 61, 71 and 22 in Noida, Gaur Chowk in Greater Noida West, and Pari Chowk in Greater Noida.The produce was sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Sharma said that one person can get up to 5kg of onion. However, in the distribution programme each person was given 2kg.NCCF officials said they will make daily posts on X (formerly Twitter) about the schedule of the vans so that people can reach them. The federation also sold chana dal to people at the subsidised rate of Rs 60 /kg.Monika, a resident of Sector 19, Noida, said that she had received information from a friend that NCCF was selling onions at a subsidised rate. I immediately came here and bought two kg of onions for Rs 50. This has come as a relief as, at retail shops, onion is sold for Rs 100 per kg, she said.Ritu Jaiswal, a homemaker, also bought 2kg of onions at NCCFs Sector 4 office. She said that this is a good initiative however, the quality of onion should be better, she added.We also published the following articles recentlyHigh onion prices sting consumersThe price of onions in Ahmedabad has skyrocketed from Rs 35 to Rs 100 per kilogram in just a few weeks. The increase in prices is due to reduced supply and poor quality caused by adverse weather conditions in onion-growing areas, particularly in Maharashtra. The supply of onions has declined, leading to a rise in prices. However, once the Gujarat crop arrives at the end of November, prices are expected to decrease. The government also had buffer onion stocks, which were being sold to stabilize prices.Retail onion price up 57 pc; Centre steps up buffer onion sale to provide relief to consumersThe Indian government has decided to sell buffer onions at a subsidized rate of Rs 25 per kg in retail markets to alleviate the rising onion prices. The average retail price of onions in the country has increased by 57% to Rs 47 per kg. The government has been offloading buffer onions since mid-August and plans to increase retail sales to prevent further price hikes. Delayed onion sowing due to weather conditions has resulted in a tight supply situation, causing price increases in both wholesale and retail markets. The government aims to improve availability and control prices by increasing the buffer onion stock.Onion does a tomato, rates double in 1 weekOnion prices in Lucknow have doubled in the past week, going from Rs 30-35 per kg to Rs 60-80 per kg. This is the second time in four months that onion prices have spiked. Bad weather earlier this year led to a poor onion crop, resulting in higher prices. Some traders also sold onions to other countries at lower prices, affecting the local supply. The rising prices are putting strain on families and restaurants, who are cutting down on onion usage. Traders are concerned that prices may continue to rise in the coming months.

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