Oct 23, 2020
Indian people are crying as the onion prices get doubled in the past 10 days in major wholesale markets to Rs. 80 per kg despite the ban on exports and the government’s decision to ease norms on imports. The trader predicts that in the domestic market the prices will remain firm but they can rise if rain damages more crops. Yet, importers said prices will go down if correct measures are taken by the government.
In the country’s largest wholesale market for onions, Lasalgaon, the average price was Rs. 62/kg, while the highest was Rs. 70/kg. At the Pimpalgaon APMC, the next largest onion market after Lasalgaon, the price was Rs. 68/kg, while the highest was Rs. 81/kg. At both the markets, the average prices have doubled in the past 10-12 days. At some markets like Kalvanand Dindori Vani in Nashik district, known for the top quality onion purchased by seed manufacturing companies, prices have touched Rs. 90/kg.When the new red onion starts arriving in Karnataka and Alwar in Rajasthan, onion prices in Maharashtra normally begin cooling down. However, this year as rain has either damaged or delayed crops in these regions, there is good demand for Nasik onion from southern India.
But the government’s move to relax phytosanitary norms will help bring supplies from Dubai. About 300 containers, or 12,000 tonnes of onion, are likely to reach the Mumbai port in the next 10 days. Considering that the imports are growing and the arrival of Kharif harvest has begun on a very small scale at some places unless there is some aberration caused by the rainfall, prices should not increase further.