Retail onion prices on Tuesday surged to Rs 73 per kg in Chennai —the highest among the metro cities — as supply disruption due to rains in producing areas have flared up bulb rates across the country. Onion prices ruled at Rs 51 per kg in Delhi, at Rs 65 per kg in Kolkata and at Rs 67 per kg in Mumbai on Tuesday, a data of Ministry of Consumer Affairs showed. The prices remained to be high in the coming days due to short supply from southern and western states.
Currently, stored onion of rabi crop is being sold in the market. Normally, prices come under pressure during this time in consuming areas but rains have created havoc in key producing areas, adding to supply woes.
Experts and traders are of the view that heavy rainfall in south and western regions has led to supply disruption and impacted the arrival of the kharif crop which will begin in full swing in the coming weeks. Farmers, though worried about the low production, are happy about the high price they fetch for what they are bring to the market. On the other hand, consumers are upset about the high prices of vegetables, especially during the festive season.
South and west zones have seen a sharp rise in retail onion prices, according to the ministry’s data.