Onion prices rise by 20% after heavy rains in Maharashtra

Onion Price: Nearly 1 lakh hectares of land under cultivation in different parts of Maharashtra has been affected due to unseasonal rains. Due to unseasonal rains, the wholesale price of onions has jumped by over 20 per cent. The onion crop is grown in three seasons - kharif, late kharif, and rabi—and is experiencing a price rise due to delayed kharif crop arrivals.

Maharashtra CACP Chairman Pasha Patel told Zee Business that there was a possibility of major damage to onion and grape crops in Maharashtra due to unseasonal rains. Crops have been damaged on more than 90,000 hectares of area in 18 districts of the state. According to available data, farmers in North Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha have suffered the most.

The government has maintained the onion buffer stock to stabilise variations and has increased the stock to 5.00 lakh metric tonnes this year from the target of 3.00 lakh metric tonnes.

Onion prices

The onion is the most affected vegetable due to the rain this season. Onion prices have increased by 29 per cent in two days. In Lasalgaon, Maharashtra, the price of old onions has increased by 29 per cent in two days. While its average price on Saturday was Rs 3,300/quintal, on Monday, its price reached above Rs 4,250/quintal. Due to the rain, the supply of onions has decreased, and the average price of new Kharif onions has also increased by 12 per cent. The average price of Kharif onion has increased from Rs 3,751 to Rs 4201/quintal.

What govt is doing to control the prices

The government is selling staple foods like wheat flour and dal pulses at controlled prices. The government has introduced Bharat Atta and Bharat Dal at subsidised rates of Rs 27.5 per kg and Rs 60 per kg, respectively.

NAFED established 329 retail points in 55 cities across 21 states, and NCCF set up 457 retail points in 54 cities across 20 states, incorporating both stationary outlets and mobile vans.