THE onion prices have surged sharply by Rs 20, while potato prices have stayed steady at the Kalamna Wholesale Market Yard in Nagpur. In the month of August, red onions were soldfor Rs 30 per kg andwhite onions at Rs 40 per kg, havenow jumped to Rs 40- 50 per kg and Rs 60-70 per kg in the wholesale market. Depleted summer storage stocks and weather-related crop damage havetightened onion arrivals in the market.While, potato prices have remained steady at Rs 15 to Rs 20 per kg over the past two months due to continuous and adequate supplies arrivingin the wholesale market. The price rise has come as a surprise for housewives and they are not happy with this situation as it disturbs their monthly budgets ,especially during the festive season. “The surge in onion price is due to concerns over lower production in the current season. Farmers in major onion growing areas have reduced so wing by 50 per cent because they got very lowprice last year. This discouraged farmers, so they diverted to other crops. To make matters worse,deficient rains in major onion growing areas has destroyed the crop to alarger extent.

 

However, the potato price has remained steady because of good and adequate supplies in the wholesale market,”said Gaurav Harde, President of Kanda Batata Aditya Welfare Association,Kalamna whole sale market while speaking to The Hitavada. Hardefurthersaid that thecurrent situation is alarming and in thecomingmonths theredonion prices areexpected to jump to Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg because of thestrongdemandexpectedduring theupcoming festiveseason. Currently,the redonions are being sold for Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg, and white onions at Rs 80 pre kg,whereas the potatoes aresold at Rs 20-25 per kg, depending on the locality and locality, he pointed out. He said that currently the stored onion arebeing supplied in the markets in regular intervals to meet the local demand. The onions are brought from Nashik, Nagar, Aurangabad, Sangamner among other far off places to the Kalamna wholesale market.Currently,about 25 to 30 trucks on an daily average basis arecoming to thewholesalemarket. However,the supplies are lower as Nagpur district requires daily average of 50 to 60 trucks to meet local demand, he added. Similarly,the potatoes are coming from Agra to the Kalamna market. On daily average 15 to 20 trucks are being unloaded, he added.