The Bengal government has decided to import 800 tonnes of onions from Alwar in Rajasthan at a time the price of the kitchen staple has touched Rs 140-150 a kg in most retail markets.

“We hope to start getting the produce from Rajasthan in the next few days. We will sell the onions at Rs 59 a kg through 800 ration shops and 300 self-help group federations. The state will not have to give subsidy initially as it would buy at a price of around Rs 54 a kg,” said an official.

The move to sell onion at prices lower than those in the retail markets was initiated on a large scale after an earlier initiative, through 110 Sufal Bangla counters, was well received among people.

“Initially, we were selling onions from Sufal Bangla counters after buying them from farmers of Bengal. As the state does not produce huge quantities of onion, large-scale sales will require purchases from onion-producing states like Maharastra, Rajasthan and Karnataka,” said a source.

Bengal needs about 6,500 tonnes of onions to meet the demand every month. The state produces only about 15,000 tonnes.

Another official said the state was in touch with the Centre to ensure it got enough supplies once the Union government imports one lakh tonnes of onions from overseas, as announced by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman.