Onion price to reduce from tomorrow: Food Minister

Bhubaneswar: In an attempt to keep a check on soaring prices of onion, the State government has procured 25 trucks of vegetable from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, which is most likely to reach Odisha market tomorrow.

"After the onion-laden trucks reach the State, the price will come down to Rs 20-22. At least 15 onion-laden trucks from Andhra Pradesh and ten trucks from Maharashtra will reach Odisha tomorrow. I have asked all supplies officers to keep a close eye on hoarding and black marketing of the vegetable," Food Supplies minister Surya Narayan Patro said.

The government was in touch with the traders of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and they had agreed to export their agricultural produce to Odisha.

Onions are being sold in Odisha at Rs 30 per kg in retail market compared to Rs 20-22 last week.

Sources said the State doesn’t produce enough onions to meet the demand of consumers. Moreover, lack of storage facilities and treatment plants also add to the woes of farmers as well as traders. So, Odisha usually imports from other neighbouring States. However, situation in States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is worse due to flood and low production.