Despite adequate supply of onion, prices of the commodity continue to soar in the retail market. In Mumbai, the monthly arrivals stood at over 23,000 tonnes during the October-November period this year, which is rise of 15%, when compared to the monthly arrivals of 20,000 tonnes in the August-September period. However, the prices of onion in Mumbai continue to rise, ranging between Rs 12 per kg in August to about Rs 26-35 per kg in December. According to the National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), the half monthly arrivals of onion for the current month have crossed 13,200 tonnes. The NHRDF has stated that the hike in retail prices of the commodity continue not only in Mumbai but also in other parts of the country. It also added that the increase in the retail prices of onion is not due to huge consumer demand or high onion exports as there is adequate amount of onion to cater to both the purposes. “The retail prices solely depend upon retailers and semi-wholesalers, who mark the highest price on onions to be sold at the mandi on a particular day,” says Ritesh Gujaral, manager of Bansal Overseas Limited, a small-sized onion supplier in Mumbai. On December 15, the highest price of onion in Mumbai stood at Rs 2,400 per quintal, while the lowest price was at Rs 950 per quintal. It has been observed that most retailers in the supermarkets as well as roadside vendors buy the onion at the lowest price, although they sell the same at a much higher rate to the consumers. Measures to be undertaken “Government agencies like the Agricultural Produce Market Committee monitor the prices of onion bought by commission agents and traders,” says Surinder Singh, manager of Excel Private Limited, a mid-sized onion supplier in Sabrina Mitchell |
