Kollam: The price of onions is skyrocketing in Kerala with a kilogram costing Rs 96 on Tuesday. Within one week, the price of onions has gone up by Rs 52 per kilo.
One week ago onions were sold for Rs 40 to Rs 44 per kg. The price of shallots has also increased and is now being sold for Rs 90 to Rs 100 per kg.
Excess rainfall and floods have triggered the price hike. Incessant rains destroyed the onions that were procured earlier. Around 40 percent of the onions procured after cultivation in February-March have been lost.
Usually, the price of onions increases as the production of Pune onions (white onions) decrease. But red onions are harvested in Andhra Pradesh at the same time, which keeps the price in check. This year, most of the produce from Andhra Pradesh was destroyed. Crop loss decreased production in Maharashtra also.
Onions come to Kerala on a large scale from Nasik, Pune and Ahmednagar markets. On Tuesday, the wholesale price of onions rose to Rs 90 per kg. Moreover, 7 percent commission and 1 percent cess must be paid to get the onions, traders said. This will result in onion prices crossing 100 per kg mark in the coming days. As the prices are on the rise, middlemen in Maharashtra have started hoarding, it is learned.
Onions are being sold for Rs 95 to Rs 100 at Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Churanda and Pavoorchatram markets. There is an increase of Rs 20per kg in the wholesale price of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED).
During Onam, the price of onions was around Rs 28 per kg. This soon increased to Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kg. During this time the central government had banned export of onions.
Horticorp taking effort to keep prices in check
“Two loads of onions from NAFED will reach Kerala on Wednesday, which can be sold for less than Rs 50 per kg. With the prices increasing, we will send a letter to NAFED seeking to sell the onions for the price it was procured. If it succeeds, Horticorp outlets will be able to sell onions for a low price. This will keep the market price in check,” said K. Sajeev, MD, Horticorp.
