Tight supply to push onion prices up by 10 per cent

Onion prices, which are already ruling at around Rs 80 per kg in most parts of the country, are likely to increase further by 10 per cent on tight supplies due to unseasonal rains affecting the crops.

“The situation is going to be more critical in future and we expect the price will go up by another 10 per cent in the coming days because the current crop, which is expected to hit the market next month, might be affected due to scanty rainfall,” Bombay APMC Director Ashok <g data-gr-id="19">Valunj</g> said .

Onions imported from Pakistan are already in the market and the lot from Egypt would hit the market next week, he <g data-gr-id="22">said,</g> but added that this would not help much in bringing down the prices.

“The 100-200 containers, 30 tonne each, of onions imported will be distributed in the entire country. Mumbai itself needs 80-100 trucks daily, each containing 12 tonnes. Moreover, our domestic stock is also depleting fast. So imports will not be able to bring down the prices,” he said.

The wholesale price of onion has risen to around Rs 60 per kg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra while it is already selling at around Rs 80 per kg in retail markets. About 700 kg of onion worth Rs 50,000 was allegedly stolen from a shop in suburban Mumbai, the police said on Sunday. In Nashik, a farmer complained to the Nandgaon police that about 2,000 kgs of onion was stolen from his place.