Kohima, Oct 18: Four districts of Nagaland — Dimapur, Kohima, Niuland and Chümoukedima — have been included in the Centre’s expanded buffer onion distribution drive across the Northeast, aimed at improving supplies and keeping the essential commodity affordable.
More than 2,800 metric tonnes (MT) of buffer onions have been dispatched to the region by rail and road under the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is distributing onions to strengthen supply networks, improve last-mile delivery and supplement availability in major consumption centres across the region.
The distribution drive has been expanded with the first-ever Kanda Express rail consignment to Agartala in Tripura, following earlier rail-based supplies to Assam.
So far, two Kanda Express rail rakes carrying 840 MT and 452 MT of onions, respectively, and 44 truck consignments carrying a combined 1,513.46 MT have supplied buffer onions across the Northeast.
Apart from the four Nagaland districts, the distribution network covers locations in Assam and Tripura, including Kamrup, Guwahati, Gomati and Sepahijala.
The Centre’s intervention comes amid an increase in fresh Kharif onion arrivals, which has contributed to easing prices in major markets. The all-India average mandi price has fallen from around ₹3,600 per quintal in September to approximately ₹3,300 per quintal in October.
The ministry said calibrated releases from buffer stocks were helping supplement market supplies and improve availability. Retail onion prices have declined by ₹1 to ₹13 per kg in 211 cities over the past two weeks, reflecting a broader easing of prices.
For Nagaland and other Northeastern states, the expanded distribution network is intended to improve access to onions through multiple transport channels, particularly in major consumption centres.
The government said it would continue to monitor market arrivals, prices and supply conditions, releasing additional onions from buffer stocks as necessary to maintain adequate supplies and moderate price fluctuations.
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