Kolkata: In a bid to check the soaring onion prices in Bengal, the state has started procuring the home-grown Sukhsagar variety. The decision aims at stabilizing retail market prices and providing relief to consumers across the state.
Retailing at a subsidized rate of Rs 39 per kilogram, these locally sourced onions are available through 478 Sufal Bangla outlets.
The procurement of Sukhsagar onions has started from key agricultural regions, including Murshidabad, Malda, East Burdwan, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas and Nadia. These onions, known for their cost-effectiveness compared to varieties from Nasik or Bellary, are expected to mitigate the current price volatility in the market.
This initiative comes in response to recent price spikes, with onion rates surging from Rs 30 to Rs 55 per kg. The state had previously faced a similar crisis in 2019 when prices skyrocketed to Rs 150 per kg, prompting govt intervention through subsidies and rationing via fair price shops.
Approximately, 12 tonnes of Sukhsagar onions have already been distributed through Sufal Bangla stalls and more than 85% of the stock has been sold.
The state plans to assist onion farmers in constructing 1,000 additional storage facilities capable of preserving onions for three to four months. Currently, Bengal has 4,000 such storage units, each having capacity of 9 to 10 tonnes. These multi-purpose cold storages are expected to enhance storage capacity and enable longer preservation periods for onions, ensuring greater stability in supply and pricing.