Dispur to procure onion in advance to check prices

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 11: In a pre-emptive bid to check skyrocketing of onion prices the State Food & Civil Supplies department has decided to procure huge quantities of onions in advance this year.

The department will soon procure 1000 metric tons of onions through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. The move is part of Dispur’s initiative to adopt and implement a price stabilization mechanism in the State to check price rise of essential commodities throughout the year. The Finance department has sanctioned Rs 50 crore to the Food and Civil Supplies department to create a coffer to procure essential items such as onions. Onions procured in advance will, however, be sold only through fair price shops.

Recording a steep hike, the rate of onion in Assam last year touched Rs 65-70 per kg in several retail markets. Guwahati that acts as the biggest bulk market for the entire North East had recorded a wholesale rate of Rs 52 to 55. The traders attributed the phenomenon to a rate hike at Nasik – the source of supply of onions.