Centre's Kanda Express plan to tackle onion prices hits roadblock as 70% stock spoils

A government onion dispatch from Lasalgaon to Delhi was delayed after quality concerns surfaced. The ground situation has highlighted a gap between the government's stated objective of using buffer stocks to bring down onion prices and the condition of the produce currently available for distribution.Onion price surge: Rotten stock, train delays hit Nashik-Delhi 'Kanda Express' (Screen grab)The Centre's plan to transport onions from Nashik to Delhi through special ‘Kanda Express’ trains has run into trouble, with four of the five proposed trains cancelled and the lone train bound for Delhi's Adarsh Nagar delayed by around 26 hours. Instead of the planned 840 metric tonnes, only 450 metric tonnes of onions were eventually dispatched.The development comes amid a sharp rise in onion prices, which reportedly increased from around Rs 35 to Rs 70 per kg within 15 days. To provide consumers with onions at lower prices, the government had decided to send buffer stocks procured from farmers by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) to different parts of the country.The initiative was also widely publicised as a measure to ease prices for consumers. However, an India Today ground report from Lasalgaon in Nashik found serious concerns over the quality of the onions being dispatched.60-70% ONIONS AT CWC WAREHOUSE FOUND SPOILTAt the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) warehouse on the Lasalgaon-Manmad Road, where onions procured by NAFED and NCCF were stored, a large quantity of the stock was found to have deteriorated. Workers had been grading the onions since Tuesday, separating whatever good-quality produce remained from the damaged stock. On inspection, only about one out of every three baskets contained onions that could be considered usable, according to the ground assessment.Several onions had already rotted, while a powder had been applied to the stock to prevent further deterioration. Workers were seen separating the better onions, but much of the remaining stock appeared unlikely to remain fit for long. The onions loaded onto the train also raised questions over quality. The produce was reportedly small-sized and did not appear to meet the prescribed procurement standards.FARMER STOPS TRAIN, QUESTIONS QUALITY OF ONIONSAs the Kanda Express prepared to leave Lasalgaon for Delhi, farmer Ganesh Nimbalkar protested and sat in front of the train, questioning the quality of the onions being transported.Nimbalkar alleged that the onions being sent to Delhi were only around 10-20 mm in size and included rotten produce. He demanded that the authorities display the onions and prove that they were of good quality."If the onions are good, show them to us," Nimbalkar said, while arguing that Delhi consumers should not be supplied substandard onions at Rs 30-35 per kg when farmers could provide better-quality, 45-mm onions.He also claimed that farmers had earlier complained to the district administration about the condition of the stored onions.840 MT TARGET CUT TO 450 MT AFTER DELAYThe original plan was to transport 840 metric tonnes of onions to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi. However, only 450 metric tonnes were loaded and dispatched.The train's departure was delayed by nearly 26 hours, with cleaning, grading and packing of the onions beginning only on Tuesday. Loading of the 450 metric tonnes was completed on Wednesday afternoon.The delay and cancellations have raised questions about the preparedness of the system to handle and transport the government's buffer stock.Farmers who reached the warehouse also questioned why good-quality onions were not being sent and alleged that the exercise could benefit middlemen rather than farmers.PROCUREMENT NORMS RAISE QUESTIONS OVER STOCK QUALITYNAFED and NCCF have been procuring onions from farmers for buffer stocks for around five years, subject to several quality conditions. One of the key requirements is that onions should have a minimum size of 45 mm.However, farmers and those monitoring the stock have questioned whether the onions currently stored at the warehouse met these procurement norms.The condition of the stock has consequently raised questions over the procurement and storage process followed by NAFED and NCCF.The ground situation in Lasalgaon has also highlighted a gap between the government's stated objective of using buffer stocks to bring down onion prices and the condition of the produce currently available for distribution.- EndsInputs from Pravin ThakreyPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Aug 26, 2026 21:16 IST