Relief for households; Onion price drops sharply

Alappuzha: After months of steep rise that upset household budgets, onion prices have fallen sharply. In Wednesday’s wholesale market, onions were priced between ₹22 and ₹28 per kg. Usually, prices rise during the September–December period, but this year they have gone down instead.

Following crop damage during the monsoon, prices had once soared to ₹100 per kg. Even during Onam, onions cost above ₹60. The current decline is due to reduced domestic demand for Indian onions and a major dip in exports.

Consumers are also getting relief as prices of most vegetables have fallen. Increased availability and market interventions have helped bring rates down. For the first time in months, most essential items have become cheaper. Garlic, which cost over ₹300 per kg last month, is now priced below ₹100. With the pineapple season in full swing, its price too has dropped.

A decline in shipments to other states has ensured better local supply, contributing to the price fall. However, prices of beans, peas, and carrots have risen compared to earlier levels — peas climbed from ₹45 to ₹60 per kg, beans from ₹50 to ₹70, and carrots from ₹40 to ₹55.