Parliament Question: Timely procurement of onion by agencies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 832 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026 TIMELY PROCUREMENT OF ONION BY AGENCIES 832. Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni: Will the minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware of the fact that onion farmers in major producing regions, including Maharashtra, are facing difficulties due to delayed procurement and not receiving remunerative prices for their produce in a timely manner; (b) if so, whether any assessment has been conducted regarding the effectiveness of procurement operations and market interventions undertaken by agencies such as NAFED and NCCF; (c) whether delays in payments to farmers and price volatility have adversely impacted farm incomes and storage decisions; and (d) if so, the corrective measures being taken to ensure timely procurement, prompt payments and fair price realisation for onion farmers? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): As per the information received from Department of Consumer Affairs, procurement of onions under Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) Onion operation through National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India ltd. (NCCF) was undertaken during June-August 2025 in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Onion procurement was completed in 1st week of August 2025 and disposal through retail sale commenced from 4th September, 2025 at discounted prices. Subsequently onions have been released through open market sale across major consumption centres. The scheme was assessed by Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog in 2023-24 and found to be farmers’ satisfaction. (c): Funds for payments to farmers for onion procured under PSF have been released to NAFED and NCCF as per quantity procured. The agencies further released the payments to farmers upon confirmation of the farmers details and quantity procured. (d): To provide remunerative price to the farmers for agricultural and horticultural commodities (including onion) which are perishable and are not covered under the Minimum Support Price regime, Government implements Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). The objective is to protect the farmers from distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival, when the prices tend to fall below cost of production. New components of Price Differential Payment (PDP) with an option to make direct payment of the price difference between the Market Intervention Price (MIP) and the selling price to the farmers for the crops traded in the APMC mandis has been added. Additionally, reimbursement for transportation and storage cost of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion and Potato) to central nodal agencies & State designated agencies for storing and transporting them from producing state to consuming state are allowed.The payment under MIS is made directly into the bank account of registered farmers. ***