Kurnool onion to be procured for hostels, fair price shops

Srikakulam: In a bid to provide minimum support price (MSP) to Kurnool onion, the State government has decided to procure it for welfare hostels apart from open sales across counters at fair price shops and rythu bazaars.

This decision was taken in the wake of fall in onion price to Rs 1 per kg in the Kurnool market. Similar situation is seen in Maharashtra. To provide minimum price to onion, the government is purchasing it for Rs 5 per kg in Kurnool and will transport it to districts across the State.

We sought required quantity for all welfare hostels, fair price shops and Rythu Bazars. We will open counters soon,” said assistant director of Marketing Department Y V Shyam Kumar.

As the onion prices rose to Rs 80 per kg, farmers cultivated onion in large extent, which resulted in steep fall in price. We have decided to sell onion for Rs 9 per kg, including transport charges,” he added.

Deputy director of Social Welfare Department KSKVVR Dhanunjaya Rao said that they have received communication from the Marketing Department on onion requirement in hostels.