Onion prices drop further in Delhi, Maha after curbs
Onion prices dropped further on Friday in Maharashtra and Delhi after the government banned exports and abolished import duty on the commodity to cool down domestic prices.
Cabinet secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar reviewed the situation with secretaries of consumer affairs, agriculture, commerce, revenue and food.
Wholesale onion price in the major producing regions of Lasalgaon and Manmad in Nashik district in Maharashtra came down by 20 per cent. At Lasalgaon mandi, wholesale onion prices fell to `3,200 a quintal for best quality onions from `4,000 per quintal on Thursday. The retail prices of onion also eased further to `50-60 a kg, but that of other staple kitchen items — tomato and garlic — continued to remain high at `40-50 a kg and `250-320 a kg respectively.
Wholesale onion prices in Laslgaon mandi came down despite the fact that just 9,000 quintals of onions made their way into the market on Friday as compared to 12,000 quintals on Thursday, according to data compiled by the National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation.
Onion sold between `8-35 a kg in the wholesale in Azadpur market (Asia’s biggest fruit and vegetable market) on Friday in comparison `10-37.5 per kg on Thursday, Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board chairman Braham Yadav said.
Against arrival of 1200 tonnes of onion in Azadpur market on Thursday the supply on Friday was only 600 tonnes. But the fall in arrival had no negative impact as transportation of the vegetable from Delhi to Eastern states cities like Gauhati, Siliguri and other cities of West Bengal stopped from Friday.
Onion prices had doubled to `70-85 per kg in major cities across the country earlier this week due to damage of crops in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka because of rains as well as hoarding and speculation.
Though fresh arrivals from other states have started to ease the situation, agriculture ministry officials said substantial relief to consumers would come only January 15, when the late kharif produce would hit the market.
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