Onion prices across the country have almost doubled in the last few days due to reduced supply. The onion which was being sold at the beginning of the year at 25 to 30 rupees per kg, while onion has crossed Rs 60 per kg in some cities today. The unseasonal rains in Maharashtra have impacted onion prices, due to rising petrol and diesel prices, onions have become expensive. But it is a matter of concern that the onion will be made even more by the common people. Experts say that onion prices are expected to come down only after March, when new onion yields will come in the market.
In the country’s largest wholesale onion market, Lasalgaon APMC, the wholesale rate of onion has increased by 20% in the last 10 days. Suvarna Jagtap, the chairperson of Lasalgaon APMC, says that onion supply has also come down from South Indian markets. At the same time, there is not much supply from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh. At the same time, the central government has also opened onion exports in January, due to which their prices have increased by Rs 1000 per quintal. He said that a new consignment of onions will start coming in March, after which prices are expected to come down.
Onion became so expensive in these cities
According to the website of the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, on January 11, 2021, the price of one kg onion in Hyderabad was Rs 34, which has now risen by Rs 26 to Rs 60. Compared to January 11, onion prices have increased by Rs 19 in Delhi, Rs 20 in Meerut, Rs 14 in Mumbai, Rs 10 in Shillong on 11 February. In Nashik, Rajkot, Warangal, Kolkata, Nagpur, onion has become costlier by Rs 15 per kg during this period.
This is the reason for inflation
The unseasonal rains during December 2020 and January 2021 destroyed the onion crop of farmers in Maharashtra. Supply declined in the market, the effect of which is now visible on prices. Onion supplies in the mandis of the country have come down by almost 40%. Due to this, onion has become expensive in the country. Apart from allowing onion exports, onion has also become costlier in the country. The other major reason for onions being expensive is the continuous increase in diesel prices. This has made freight transportation expensive.
