Onion Prices Likely to Cool Down Further With Arrival of New Kharif Crop: Govt Official

New Delhi: Onion prices are expected to furr cool down in coming days as arrival of fresh kharif crop has begun, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said on Wednesday.

Currently, aver all-India retail price of onion is ruling at Rs 54 per kg and prices have declined in past one month after government's subsidised sale of onion in key consuming centers, official said.

government is disposing of buffer stock onion in retail market at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kg in Delhi-NCR and or cities to provide relief to consumers from high prices.

government has a buffer stock of 4.5 lakh tonne of onion, of which 1.5 lakh tonne has been disposed till date.

According to ministry official, buffer stock onion is being transported to key consuming centres through railways for first time and is helping boost supplies.

"We will continue with bulk rail transportation of buffer onion till we exhaust with stock and prices stabalise," official said.

About 4,850 tonne of onion has been supplied through rail rakes in last few weeks to Delhi, Chennai, and Guhawati. A maximum of 3,170 tonne onion was transported to price-sensitive Delhi market.

"Ar rake of Rs 730 tonne by cooperative Nafed is expected to reach Delhi tomorrow," official said ting this should furr boost availability and ease prices.

re was sudden pressure on onion prices in last two days as mandis were closed and labourers were on leave due to festival season, official said ding that situation, however, has started improving w.

official also mentioned that production is expected to be higher.