Rising onion, garlic and ginger prices add to household burden in Mancherial

Onion prices in Mancherial have jumped from Rs 30 to Rs 70 per kg in a month, while garlic and ginger prices have doubled. Traders attributed the surge to supply shortages, while experts cited higher fuel costs and the West Asia conflict

By Santosh Padala

Mancherial: Prices of onions, garlic and ginger have skyrocketed, increasing the burden on households already hit by steep rice and sugar prices.

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Prices of essential commodities have continued to rise in recent times, leaving consumers shocked. Sugar, which cost Rs 30 per kg a month ago, is now retailing at Rs 70 per kg. The price of onions, a staple in most dishes, has jumped from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 70 per kg in just one month, reflecting a rise of about 133 per cent.

Similarly, the prices of garlic and ginger, key ingredients in curries, have doubled from Rs 200 per kg to Rs 400 per kg over the past few weeks. Ginger is now priced at Rs 300 per kg, as against Rs 150 per kg in August. Prices of coconuts, cooking oil and rice have also climbed significantly over the last few months.

Consumers said they were hesitant to buy onions, garlic and ginger following the price rise. They urged the government to take steps to control the hike. They recalled that the prices of cooking oil, fruits, sugar, coconuts, pulses, rice and many other essential commodities had surged in recent times, causing a financial burden on households.

Traders said prices had skyrocketed due to the huge gap between supply and demand. They opined that the cultivation of onions, garlic and ginger had declined due to the El Niño pattern. They disclosed that the yields of these crops had plummeted drastically due to heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, from where the commodities were being sourced.

Experts said the rise in fuel prices caused by the West Asia conflict had contributed to the inflation in onions, garlic and ginger. Since the newly harvested onions are likely to decay, traders are coming forward to store the commodity, sources said.