Surplus onion production across the country has brought down its price in Delhi. The wholesale price of onion has fallen flat to Rs5 per kg. In retail market residents are purchasing onion between Rs18 per kilo and Rs20 per kilo. Similarly, the price of the potatoes too in the wholesale market has come down to Rs7 per kg.
A local trader said, "Usually we get 35 trucks of onions to the mandi, but this time we are getting 50 trucks. The supply in large quantities of onion has further brought down its price. You will be amazed to know that wholesale onion prices plummeted in Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) as it is being sold at Rs2/kg. low quality onions are also being sold at an unbelievable 35 paise/kg. The sharpest fall is witnessed in onion prices after the arrival of kharif crops. This is expected to help the Government fight inflation and bring relief to consumers, especially with regard to prices of essential commodities.”
Former president of Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Azadpur, Rajender Sharma said there has been surplus onion production across the country this time, and the demand is relatively low. “The farmers are badly hit as they spend at least Rs12 per kg in the entire process of producing the crop, excluding their labour cost.” In Delhi, which primarily relies on two States among a few others for onions, the situation is equally grim. At the Azadpur Mandi, onion is being sold at Rs7.86 per kilo on an average.
The best-quality onions are being sold at a wholesale rate of Rs10.5 per kg, whereas the poor-quality and the smaller ones are being bought by traders at Rs4.5 per kilo.
If data of onion prices at Azadpur Mandi of over a year is compared, then it's the lowest this month. "In August last year, the rates were a staggering Rs53 per kilo, and the average cost itself was Rs39. In January also the price was as high as Rs17 per kg," said
On the other hand, potato prices are following suit. With fresh produce flooding major mandis, potato prices have already gone down. It is understood that the prices are likely to remain moderate for some time. "Potato is such a vegetable that mixes up with anything and brings out a full appetite…With its price going down, major relief has come," said Shweta, resident of southeast Delhi's Kailash Colony. Another homemaker Kiran Tiwari, resident of West Delhi's Tilak Nagar said, "During Navratri prices had gone up at some places but now onions are found cheaper in comparison to what it was before." Both the homemakers wished the prices remain same even for long.
Meanwhile, there are some vegetables whose prices continue to remain high. The prices of all other vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower and tomato are not likely to reduce further in the next one month because of fresh production. The market rates of these vegetables are swinging between Rs35 and 38 per kg. "Production of these vegetables is not as great. May be in the days to come we will have better supply," said a trader.
"Because it is the beginning of the month, there is less supply. But in the days to come, supplies will go up and the rates will also subside subsequently," he added.