Onion price soars again, selling at upto Rs 70 per Kg

After receding slightly in month of August, the onion prices have once again hit the roof. It has altered the menu in thousands of households, eateries and restaurants.

Retired bank officer VK Purohit (65) usually bought five kg of onion for a week's requirements of his family but due to soaring prices of onion, he now settles for two kg in his weekly vegetable purchase.

Parashar is not alone in the city who has forced to alter his purchase list.

Having receded to Rs 50 per kg around a fortnight ago, onion prices have once again flared up in local mandis, mostly due to low supplies this season from South India and drought faced by onion hub Nashik , claim whole sellers and retailers. Onion whole seller Shobhraj Kumar said that supplies have dwindled from South Indian states so the onion prices have headed northwards. He added that onion is selling upto Rs 60 per kg in whole sale market and Rs 75 in retail outlets.

The trader affirmed that onion prices are not likely to cool down unless the fresh crop hits the local markets.

Vegetable trader from Choithram mandi, Shiv Shukla said though onion is giving nightmares to traders and buyers alike but prices of other vegetables have receded slightly in recent past, owing to improved supplies. Centre has suggested that traders and speculators might be "artificially" increasing onion prices. Adding to official, alarm is a 50% dip in arrivals at most major mandis in past 10 days.

Tearjerker
Supplies have dwindled from South states so the onion prices have headed northwards. Onion is selling upto Rs 60 per kg in whole sale market and Rs 75 in retail outlets. Centre has suggested that traders and speculators might be artificially increasing onion prices.