“In the present situation, there is no exports as domestic prices are higher, but it’s a long term step, which will make exports not viable once the new crop arrives in the market around end -October”, said Nanasaheb Patil, chairman of Lasalgaon mandi (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee). It is being said that the retail price may touch to Rs 100 per kg or even more as supply is deficient and farmers in Maharashtra are waiting for rain to sow their late kharif crop.
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Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said the ministry had been monitoring the market to prevent hoarding since the Indian MEP came into effect.
While the state government has been selling onions at subsidised rates, but lack of knowledge among people is preventing people of Delhi to avail of this facility.
This was the third hike in the prices of onions in the last 20 days. As per the database of National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, 2,000 quintals of onions arrived at the Lasalgaon market and the modal price was Rs 5,700 per quintal on Saturday. Some Delhiites have also complained about the quality of onions being sold by the AAP government.
With the festival season round the corner, onion prices in Mumbai could breach the Rs.
In turn, SFAC is supplying Onions at Rs.30.50 per kg.to SAFAL, which is retailing at Rs.
The onion rate at the mandis in Delhi is ruling firm because wholesale traders are getting the commodity at very high prices from key growing states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, he explained.
At retail market across Maharashtra, onion prices are hovering between Rs 60 and Rs 70 per kg – and there are chances that it may touch between Rs 90 and Rs 100.
An official press release said the prices of onions were being reviewed regularly. This was more than the previous year at 55 Rs a kg.
The stored rabi onion has halved to 14 lakh tonnes from 28 lakh tonnes in July.
Total onion production is estimated to be lower at 189 lakh tonne in 2014-15 crop year (July-June), slightly lower than 194 lakh tonne a year ago.
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While the government has announced its intention to go in for imports, traders wonder whether the announcement itself would not send the prices in the worldwide market soaring, given the desperate requirements for India.
