VIJAYAWADA: Onion prices are likely to increase in the coming months because of the production and supply gap. At present, in Rythu Bazaar one kg of onion costs Rs 20, while in retail markets it costs Rs 30 per kg to Rs 40 per kg. The prices of onion that began to rise in the retail market in the recent past are not showing any signs of coming down.
From Tuesday onwards, supply of onions from Maharashtra will come down to a trickle, while only the onion stock in Kurnool will be available in the market. On Monday, the Maharashtra variety of onion was available in the market for `23 per kg, while the Kurnool variety came at Rs 20 per kg. In fact, one cannot imagine to cook a meal without using onion, which is the main ingredient. Ahead of Diwali, the Vijayawada city, which receives more than 150 quintals of onion daily is receiving less than 100 quintals.
N Krishna Murthy, an onion supplier said, “As the onion stock from Maharashtra has been stopped, we are relying solely on Kurnool markets and making sure there is a constant supply of onions in the local markets. As part of market intervention and efforts to stabilise the onion prices, tonnes of onions have been supplied to the city markets.
In fact, the wholesalers and retailers are also finding it hard to stock onions as the demand is high, but the available stocks are rapidly running out.“Everyday, we sell almost two quintals of onions. All I do is to go to the wholesalers and buy onions and bring it to my shop and sell them. But now I am getting onions once in two to three days. But the customers are lining up at my shop. If the stocks run dry, we hope the prices to go up to Rs 40 per kg in wholesale markets in the next 10 days,” TP Rao, an onion vendor, said.