NCCF procures 2,826 tn onion from farmers for buffer stock; to scale up buying in coming days
NCCF) on Saturday said it has purchased 2,826 tonnes of onion at Rs 2,410 per quintal directly from farmers in the last four days mostly from Maharashtra as it resumed procurement of the bulb for a higher buffer stock. The government enhanced the onion buffer stock target from 3 lakh tonnes to 5 lakh tonnes this year.
Two cooperatives, NCCF and NAFED, have been mandated to procure 1 lakh tonnes each directly from farmers at Rs 2,410 per quintal to avoid panic selling amid the imposition of an export curb to control domestic prices.
The two cooperatives are also disposing of the government's buffer stock of onion in both wholesale and retail markets to control the rising retail prices of onion, which at present are ruling up to Rs 60 per kg depending on the quality in Delhi and other cities.
Speaking with PTI, NCCF Managing Director Anice Joseph Chandra said the cooperative commenced the procurement directly from farmers on August 22 in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Around 12-13 procurement centres have been opened in Maharashtra and more will be set up depending on the demand.
«In the last four days, we purchased about 2,826 tonnes of onion mostly from Maharashtra. The target is to buy 1 lakh tonnes and we may procure more,» she said.
NCCF is procuring onion directly from farmers at Rs 2410 per quintal, which is higher than the prevailing wholesale rate of Rs 1900-2000 per quintal, she added.
In order to boost domestic availability and check rising retail prices, Joseph Chandra said NCCF is also selling the buffer onion stock in 11 states and union territory where prices are increasing and so far 6,450 tonnes of onion has been sold in the wholesale markets at the current mandi rates.
The 11 states and union
