Tamil Nadu Food and Consumer Protection Minister Venkataramanan told the Assembly that onions will be sold at Rs 35 per kg through cooperative wholesale outlets and urban fair price (ration) shops.
He said onion prices in the open market have risen to around Rs 56–60 per kg due to higher transport costs following an increase in vehicle fuel prices linked to the Iran war, and reduced arrivals from major producing states such as Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
To curb the price rise and support poor, simple and middle-class families, the government has decided to procure 1,000 metric tonnes of onions in the first phase through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation.
The onions will be distributed via cooperative wholesale and main sales outlets, Amudham stores, and fair price shops located in urban areas.
In the first phase, starting September 3, one kg of onions will be provided at Rs 35 per family card through 8,739 fair price shops serving about 80 lakh cardholders in urban areas. The minister said additional supply will be arranged based on demand in coordination with the two national cooperative agencies.
