Onion becomes dearer than pulses and grains
   Date :06-Dec-2019

Onion becomes dearer than
 
Business Bureau :
 
ONION, the important staple of every kitchen has now become dearer than pulses. The all-time onion is now missing from most of the cuisines. Pratap Motwani, Secretary of The Nagpur Wholesale Grain and Seed Merchants Association said, “People must forget onions and eat more pulses which are not only cheaper but also contains more vitamin and proteins.” He pointed out that the prices of onion in the retail market were between Rs 100 and Rs 150 per kg.
 
“How can we expect the price to come down when in the wholesale market the prices of onion are between Rs 100 and Rs 120 per kg,” Motwani said. According to him, the prices of pulses in the wholesale market are in the range of Rs 52 to Rs 60 per kg for Channa dal. Tur dal Rs 68 and Rs 85 per kg; Masur dal Rs 55 and Rs 60 per kg; Batana dal Rs 58 and Rs 60 per kg and lakh or Lakhodi dal between Rs 48 and Rs 50 per kg. Urad mogar or Mung mogar between Rs 80 and Rs 100 per kg. “Not only pulses but even grains are also cheaper than onion. Rice at Rs 25 and Rs 45 per kg; Wheat at Rs 26 and Rs 40 per kg; Jowar at Rs 30 and Rs 45 per kg. Jowar of good quality is available in the market,” he said. Motwani pointed out that all pulses and grains are cheaper than onion.
 
“After Independence, it is for the second time that onion prices have gone to three digit figure in the retail and wholesale market. When the demand for onions comes down, prices of the agri produce will also fall automatically,” he felt. Motwani also suggested that the new State Government should think seriously on the issue. It should make the important ingredient of kitchen cheaper and pocket friendly for every person. Krishna Borate, social worker suggested that Government should supply onions through its ration shops. “Everyone should get onions at least in minimum quality at an affordable prices.
 
Government must take care of this garve issue and give respite to common men,” Borate said. Vaishali Chopde, President of Sakar Foundation said, “The budget of housewives is always getting disturbed when the prices of with kitchen items goes up. A fixed policy for controlling the prices of important kitchen items and vegetable is necessary. In the case of prices going very high or very low, Govern- ment should sell that commodity through public distribution system only, where interest of both farmers and common man will be defended.”