Onion Prices Beyond Reach!!
The unseasonal rains have wreaked havoc! On the one hand, the poor farmers are in distress. On the other hand, the onion prices continue to soar! In Mulund, the onion prices have touched Rs 120/- per kg! What is more nerve-racking is that the onion retailers maintain that, instead of any relief, onion prices are likely to shoot even higher and may cross Rs. 150/- per kg!
The wholesale dealers blame the high price to the shortage of onions landing in the wholesale market. Due to the unavailability of onions, the traders are demanding as high as Rs. 100/- per kg! According to a wholesale dealer, “The unseasonal rain has devastated the onion harvest hence new onions are not available in the market. A trader said, “This year, the onion crop was first hit by the delay in the rains and towards the end of the monsoon season, there was non-stop rain. This played havoc on the standing onion harvest. In Maharashtra, both the cities Nashik and Jalgaon, that produce maximum onions were hit by floods hence onion production was adversely affected.”
Why has onion price escalated to Rs 120/- per kg?
According to a wholesale trader, in Mumbai, there is a demand of 90 to 100 truckloads of onions. But, alas, due to shortage of onions, just 50 to 60 trucks are reaching Mumbai city. As a result, onions are available at Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 at the wholesale market while the same onions are available at Rs. 90 to Rs. 120 in retail.
Onions go off the menu in hotels/ dhabas
Generally, onion is served free in hotels and dhabas. But, ever since the onions prices have escalated, hotels and dhabas have discontinued the serving of free onions!! In place of onions, the hotel and Dhaba owners are now serving cauliflower or radish! The customers are angry but silently eat without protest as they are aware of the plight of the onion trade.
