Minister Lal Kantha Defends New Quality Criteria for Big Onion Purchases

Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha today defended the government’s decision to introduce new quality criteria for purchasing big onions, amid criticism from farmer organizations and trade groups.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister emphasized that Sathosa must maintain product standards when procuring big onions, as these stocks are later supplied to supermarkets and retail outlets across the country.

“We need to purchase them with some quality. Sathosa has to sell them to customers in return,” Minister Kantha explained, stressing the need to uphold quality control in the procurement process.

The government’s new criteria require that purchased onions have a diameter between 35mm and 65mm—a move that has drawn concern from farmers who argue that the rule could exclude a portion of their produce from being accepted.

Despite the criticism, Minister Kantha maintained that ensuring quality consistency is essential for both consumer satisfaction and the reputation of government-backed retail outlets.