Ranchi: The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) has sold 28.80 metric tonnes (MT) of onions at Rs 35 per kg through its sale outlets as against retail prices of Rs 70-80 per kg in local markets, in Ranchi from Sunday to Wednesday, NCCF officials said.Branch manager of NCCF (Jharkhand) Prince Kumar said, “We have sold 28.80 metric tonnes of onions in Ranchi since Sunday. The response has been good. Sale is under way at multiple points for ease of consumers.”The onions being sold are part of the Union govt’s buffer stock maintained in govt warehouses for price stabilisation. The stock, procured from major onion-producing regions, including Nashik, is being released in the retail market as prices rise.“Onions are selling for Rs 70-80 per kg in the market. I bought several kilos today as the difference is substantial for a regular household budget,” said Deepak, a buyer at the Kokar Chowk outlet.The outlets were set up at 10 strategic locations, including Kokar Chowk, Bariatu Road, Kantatoli Chowk, Bada Talab, Upper Bazaar, Dhurwa, Hatia, Birsa Chowk, Hinoo, and Singmore Road.“Around 150-200 people came to the outlet to buy onions on Wednesday. There was a steady flow of customers, especially during the morning and evening hours,” said Dilip Kumar, a seller at the Kantatoli Chowk outletWith the Ranchi sale recording a steady response, NCCF is also looking at extending the intervention to other cities in Jharkhand. “The initiative is aimed at releasing buffer stocks into the market to moderate prices and provide consumers access to onions at a lower rate during periods of price rise,” Kumar added.
