Centre eyes private players for onion storage, transport

Selected cos will source and store onions from hubs in Maha, K'taka and MP

- Dhirendra Kumar

NEW DELHI: Steep prices, rotting stocks and cartel concerns—The heartburn that comes with onion harvests every year may become a thing of the past, with the government looking to sign up private firms for efficient storage and transport of the kitchen staple to supplement its own buffer stocks.

Selected companies will source and store onions from hubs in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh at a pre-agreed price, to be delivered across the country when needed, a person aware of the plans said on the condition of anonymity.

India maintains buffer stocks to stabilise prices of onion, a kitchen bulb prone to volatile prices since a quarter of the produce is lost after harvest. Currently, the stocks are maintained at warehouses run by national agriculture cooperatives.