No issue with shallots sold by govt outlets: Raju

He said they were providing quality native small onion (sold at Rs 125 per kg here while market prices range between Rs 180 - 200) and shallots (sold at Rs 90 per kg here while market price hovers around Rs 140) imported from Karnataka. Cooperative outlets sell Bellary onion at Rs 40 per kg while it is available for Rs 60 - 80 per kg. 

The Minister said he chose to review the sale after reports of poor quality vegetables, and pushing medium sized Bellary onion as small onion in Farm Fresh outlets. 

“Our agenda of the review included to scrap this scheme due to negative criticisms the scheme has attracted. As I interacted with the buyers, they seem to be happy with the products. A woman told me that she had purchased shallots from Virudhunagar market, and has been doing so for a long time. Our priority is price control. One of our Farm Fresh outlets in Thoothukudi sells between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh worth vegetables per day,” he said. 

Raju claimed that they purchase the vegetables in bulk and share them among their outlets. “There are 79 shops across the state including 2 mobile shops in the city.” 

As regards stopping sale of Urad dal and pushing of Masoor dal, the Minister maintained that the Food Minister had already made the state’s stand public, and that the government would not push anything against the wish of the people. 

To a query on Governor Banwarilal Purohits review meetings, the Minister said that it would be better get a reaction from senior ministers or from the Chief Minister.