Onion prices soar in Delhi; traders blame it on supply shortage
Delhi: The price of onions in the national capital on Saturday witnessed a huge increase to almost double the previous price affecting household budgets.
Onion traders are putting the blame for the sudden spike in onion prices on a shortage in supply.
According to the onion traders, the onions were priced at Rs 25-30 per kg before Navratri which have gone up to Rs 55-60 per kg in three days and these are being sold at Rs 65-70 per kg in the markets.
Currently, the retail prices in Delhi NCR stand at Rs 60 per kg from Rs 40 per kg a fortnight back due to delayed arrivals of harvest from key producing states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, as per an official of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
«The inflow of the onion is low resulting in high rates. Today the rates are Rs 350 (per 5 Kg). Yesterday, it was Rs 300.
It was Rs 200 before that. A week ago, rates were Rs 200, Rs 160 or Rs 250 etc. The rates have gone up in the last week.
The rates have risen due to a shortage in supply,» an onion trader at Ghazipur vegetable market in Delhi said while speaking to ANI.
A customer at the market expressed concern about the soaring prices and said that earlier 1 kg of onion was available for Rs 20 now it is priced at Rs 50-60 per kg and added that if this continues it will affect the daily household expenses.
A vegetable vendor at Ghazipur market said that if the shortage of supply isn't met then the prices will soon reach Rs 100 per kg.
«We are here to purchase onion. The onion rates were Rs. 50 before Navratri, now it is Rs.
70/kg. Our purchase is at Rs 70 per kg and we will sell it at Rs 80/kg. Earlier, it was Rs 30-40 per kg.
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