Retail prices of onions continued to rule at the high level of Rs45-60/kg in metros, but are likely to decline after the arrival of fresh crops from Maharashtra and Gujarat, which are expected to hit the market by January 15.
Retail prices of onions continued to rule at the high level of Rs45-60/kg in metros, but are likely to decline after the arrival of fresh crops from Maharashtra and Gujarat, which are expected to hit the market by January 15.
In Delhi, onions are being sold at Rs50-60/kg, but there were reports that in some posh colonies, vendors are even charging Rs65-70/kg. Mother Dairy was selling onions at Rs45-47/kg yesterday at its 400 outlets.
According to reports from the other three metros, onion prices in the retail markets of Kolkata and Mumbai remained unchanged at Rs 45-50/kg, but in Chennai, they fell to Rs56/kg from Rs60-65 per kg yesterday.
With a view to provide immediate relief to the common man, state-owned trading firms PEC, STC and MMTC are importing at least 1,000 tonnes of onions from Pakistan, which will be offloaded in retail markets across the country by state governments.
The onions imported by the state-run trading firms --which cost around Rs30/kg -- are likely to start arriving in the country from the end of this week.
Top officials of the Delhi government yesterday said the Centre has agreed to provide 300 tonnes of onion to Delhi out of the total quantity being imported from Pakistan and these would be sold at select outlets at about Rs35/kg.
Retail prices of onions had surged to Rs70-85/kg on December 20-21 in major cities across the country due to crop damage in Maharashtra caused by abnormal rainfall.
Maharashtra and Karnataka are the two major onion-producing states in the country, accounting for 40% of the average annual output of 12 million tonnes.
The government had banned exports and removed import duty on onions to boost domestic supply and curb rising prices. Private traders have already imported over 5,000 tonnes of onions via road through Amritsar.
Meanwhile, wholesale prices of onions in Delhi's Azadpur market remained unchanged at Rs45/kg, even though arrivals slowed down to 600 tonnes today from 800 tonnes yesterday, Tomato and Onion Merchant Association general secretary Rajendra Sharma said, adding that prices would remain firm till Lohri.
"Supply from Rajasthan has almost dried up. Arrivals from Maharashtra and Gujarat would pick up after January 14," he said.
Wholesale markets in Maharashtra were closed today on account of Amavasya, which marks the end of the lunar month.
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