Rising Onion prices making consumers shed tears
Onions are adding to the misery of consumers, which at the retail level today shot up to Rs 80 per kg in the national capital region due to tight supply despite the government’s steps to keep a lid on prices.
According to officials, the wholesale price of onion at Azadpur Mandi was today recorded in the range of Rs 40-53. However, retail prices in many areas across the city varied between Rs 70-80.
“Today, 67 trucks of onion came to Azadpur Mandi, maximum of 55 trucks from Rajasthan. The wholesale price in the Mandi remained i nthe range of Rs 40-53. “Prices of onion are expected to remain high due to rain and delay in arrival of the new crop,” said, Anil Malhotra, member of Azadpur Mandi Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC).
The reason behind sky high prices
Onion prices are hardening due to the fall in production and sluggish supply of stored onions, which are meant for meeting demand during the lean July-September. Total onion production is estimated to be lower at 189 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June), slightly lower than 194 lakh tonnes a year ago.
Government planning to import 10000 tons on Onions
In a bid to control onion prices, the central government on Wednesday decided that the MMTC will import 10,000 tonnes of onion.
“In order to contain rise in prices of onion and ensure its increased availability, the government has decided that (state-run trading company) MMTC will float a global tender for import of 10,000 tonnes of onion shortly,” the agriculture ministry said.
