Stop Nafed’s onion procurement till irregularities are investigated, demand farmers

Onion growers are demanding the suspension of Nafed’s onion procurement operations due to reported irregularities found by a Nafed team during surprise visits to procurement centers. This demand could hinder the government’s goal of creating a strategic onion buffer. The central government aims to procure 5 lakh tonnes of onions for the Price Stabilisation Fund but faces challenges as market prices are higher than the government’s offer prices. Allegations of irregularities include buying onions from traders instead of farmers and presenting them as purchases made for Nafed.