State governments cold to imported onions

The state governments are reluctant to purchase the onions from the government that were imported to India, eyeing the shortage of the staple in the country recently. Sources said that in the retail market there are few takers of imported onions as it lacks the pungency or taste Indian consumers like. The government is now planning to increase the buffer stock of domestic onion this year.

The onion supply from overseas was around 279.1 tonnes in Delhi while total arrival including domestic supply was estimated to be around 566.5 tonnes, according to APMC figures. The government reduced the stock limit for retailers to 2 tonnes recently.