Witnessing about 35 per cent rise in Onion prices during the last one week, the key kitchen ingredient continues to burn a hole in the consumer’s pocket.
The local wholesale market witnessed surge of about Rs 8 per kg of Onion , thus a similar growth was recorded in the retail prices, only in a week’s time.“A week ago, Onion was available for Rs16–17 a kg in wholesale market while the retail price was Rs20. As the price of this commodity has gone up to Rs25 a kg in wholesale, the same is being sold at Rs30 a kg in retail” said a wholesale trader, Prakash Sahu.
The trader claimed that the stock of Chhattisgarh’s Onion crop output have finished in the State and the next crop will be available in the market only by next year.Till then, the local markets are totally depended on supply from other states especially Maharashtra. Another trader, Bashir Ahmed said that due to the price rise, Onion is finding fewer buyers in the market.
“It seems that in view of price rise, the household customers have already made a stock of Onion while those, who didn’t, are waiting to let the Onion prices fall” said Ahmad adding that there is less chances of seeing any decline in Onion prices for a couple of months.“The commodity is being sourced from the Mandi in Nashik (Mahrashtra). After the rise in fuel prices, the commodity’s price is also likely to go up” he predicted.
Either the next Onion crops or initiative from the authorities concerned to bring down the commodity’s price can bring some respite for the consumers, he said.“Every year, Onion crops from local farms arrive in the market by March-April while the same arrive from Maharashtra by October-November” Ahmed said.