Onion prices have reached the sky again. The price of onion in the retail market of Delhi has reached 100 rupees per kg. Showing some activeness, the government has started preparations for import of onions, but the situation now seems that onion will still make people cry.
According to traders, the price of onion in the retail market can go up to Rs 120 per kg. Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that onion production has decreased by 40 percent compared to last year.
Onion prices in Delhi are once again making Delhi people cry. Alam is that onion prices have increased by 200 to 300 percent in the last ten days. In many other states, onion retail prices are running from 80 to 90 rupees. According to reports, the wholesale price of onion in the Lasalgaon wholesale market of Maharashtra has gone up to Rs 55.50 per kg. This is at the highest level of 4 four years. Earlier, in the beginning of August, it was priced at Rs 13 per kg.
Ram Vilas Paswan said – 40 percent reduced production
The government has also come into action when prices touch the sky. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has said that the government will encourage import of onion from other countries, so that its prices will come down. After import, it is expected that onion prices will soften somewhat.
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that onion production has decreased by 40 percent compared to last year. He said that the main reason for the reduction in onion production is that the monsoon came a month late this year and the onion crop in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan has been damaged due to rain-flood.
Paswan called a meeting of officials of his ministry regarding the rising onion prices. Paswan said, "Since October, we have given as much onion to all states as needed from buffer stock, but now we have about 1557 metric tonnes of onions in our buffer stock. Delhi has just written that there has been some rot in the onion being given by the central government. Keeping onion in stock for a very long time causes it to deteriorate. We have set a stock limit on the onion. Action will be taken against anyone who holds more stock than the limit.
The government had earlier banned the export of onions. Now, exports of onion products have been banned, but considering the prices of onions, the government has decided that traders can import onions from Iran, Turkey and other countries.
Ram Vilas Paswan said, 'Chief Ministers of all states and principal secretaries have been asked to try to control the prices of onions. We are seeking suggestions from all that what steps should be taken to stop the rising prices of onions.
Due to nonseasonal rains, onion crop has suffered a lot. Due to heavy rains in October and November, the onion crop in Nashik, Ahmednagar and Pune has suffered a lot. Traders have expressed the possibility of further increase in prices. Most farmers are selling their old stock only.
The new onion has deteriorated due to rain. Therefore, onion producing farmers say that the price of old stock of onion will be higher. Anyway, onion production had reduced last year. In the wholesale market, onion prices have registered a 4-fold increase during the last 3 months.
Indian missions in Afghanistan, Egypt, Turkey and Iran have been asked to supply onions to India. It is expected that onions will reach India in 80 to 100 containers soon. The decision to import onion indicates that its domestic availability is not sufficient. The government is trying to supply onions from Maharashtra and other southern states to northern India.
Significantly, the price of onion is a sensitive issue. Its price often goes up at a height. In the first month of October, onion prices had increased significantly. At that time, due to the protests of the farmers, there was a lot of bottleneck in the supply of onions and tomatoes in the mandis.
Recently, to keep the price of onions and pulses under control, the central government had instructed NAFED to continue supplying pulses and onions from the buffer stock.
