Onion prices to come down from November

New Delhi: Onion prices, which are ruling high at Rs 70-80 per kg in the national capital and other parts of the country, will calm down from November onwards when fresh kharif crop hits the market, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said on Thursday.

To keep a lid on prices, the Centre is offloading onion from its buffer stock through agencies like Nafed, NCCF and Mother Dairy's Safal outlets in the national capital at a cheaper rate of Rs 23.90 per kg.

Even other states are taking the stock from the buffer to sell in their states.

"We have a buffer stock of 50,000 tonnes. We have already liquidated 15,000 tonnes of onion.

I think if we can release the remaining stock for another about two months and in early November, we are expecting kharif crop, prices will be back to normal," Chand said on the sidelines of an event.

While addressing the event, Chand said India should have its own outlook on agriculture crops to avoid crisis that is currently seen in onion.

"I feel the kind of changes that have happened in Indian agriculture, we have a strong need for outlook," he said.