Onion prices on the rise in Hyderabad

Since the first week of October, onion prices have been on an ascent, with retail shops and grocery stores increasing the prices

Hyderabad: Continuing its steady rise on the price charts in the last few weeks, the onion is now costing around Rs 100 a kg.

Since the first week of October, onion prices have been on an ascent, with retail shops and grocery stores increasing the prices. Even in Rythu bazaars, which sell vegetables at wholesale prices, customers had to buy them at Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg.

Traders attribute high onion prices to a supply crunch from Maharashtra and Karnataka as rains have damaged the onion crops badly. Eventually Hyderabad has been witnessing a short supply, prompting many traders to hike the prices still higher in the local markets.

Ramakrishna, a trader at Mahbub Mansion, Malakpet said that stocks have dropped sharply in the market. The onion crops in Kurnool, Karnataka and Mahabubnagar were damaged in rains that affected the usual arrivals in the market.

“A quintal of grade 1 onions is being sold for Rs 7,000 to Rs 7,500 at the market yard while medium quality onions are available for Rs 6,000 to Rs 6,200 per quintal. At present, we are receiving 30 to 40 lorries of onions against usual arrival of 150 lorries,” he said.

A few weeks back, onions were available for Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg while they were also sold for Rs 20 to Rs 30 a kg in September. However, the pricing rose steadily with each week and now touched the Rs 100 per kg mark.

Last year too during the same period, onion prices went over Rs 100 per kg and for a couple of week, almost cost Rs 150 per kg in city stores.

Ramesh, Estate Officer, Erragadda Model Rythu Bazaar said that it has become difficult to predict the prices of onions these days. “The prices are going up and plummeting depending on rains. If rains cease, we can expect the onion prices to drop in coming days,” he said.

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