With soaring onion prices not showing any indication of coming down, the people have started cutting down on its consumption.
Wholesale price of onion of smaller size was Rs 28 per kg while the bigger ones were available at Rs 30 per kg in July. The same was sold at Rs 33 per kg and Rs 35 per kg in the retail market.
In August, prices went up to Rs 43 per kg and Rs 45 a kg respectively. Later, prices of both the varieties rose to Rs 50 per kg. Around September 5, prices went up to Rs 48 for small onions and Rs 50 per kg for big ones while in retail market, it was sold at Rs 55 per kg and Rs 58 per kg respectively. As on today, wholesale price has gone upto Rs 53 per kg and Rs 55 respectively and is being sold at Rs 60 a kg in retail market.
Though vegetable vendors had said that the price of onion would dip after Ganesh Puja when the new crop will arrive in the market, there is no sign of relief yet.
“Every day I am making meals using only one small onion, half for the morning meal and the other half for dinner,” said Santilata Behera, 34, a labourer who supports a family of three and has cut down the onion consumption to half a kg per month.
To bring some respite, district administration had stepped in by selling onions at Rs 45 per kg through fair price shops. This arrangement, however, has been stopped for the last 10 days.
Vegetable wholesaler Gopal Gupta said normally onion gets dearer in July and August and its price comes down after the new crop is harvested in September. While vendors like him are clueless about the rising price of the vegetable, Gupta said the onion trade is controlled from Nashik and there is every possibility that the traders there have formed a cartel.