Buying Onion can make your pocket go empty soon! prices hiked by 50%; may stay high until supplies improve

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• Oct 27, 2023 | Poonam Nath

In Visakhapatnam, the price of onions has more than doubled, rising from 25 rupees per kilogramme to 50 rupees...

Digital Desk: After tomatoes saw a significant price increase in the market, onions are now setting the trend by leaving regular people's pockets empty. 

Onion retail prices in the National Capital Region have risen by 25-50%, with current costs ranging from Rs 50-70 per kilogramme, depending on quality.

Not only in Delhi but also in Visakhapatnam, the price of onions has more than doubled, from 25 to 50 rupees per kilogramme. 

Parts in Assam's Guwahati have also seen a surge as the price of onions as of now is Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kilogram.

This price increase conformed with the end of the 10-day Navratra festival, which culminated in Dussehra celebrations.

In order to deal with growing demand and delayed production, the central government placed a 40% export levy on onion exports in August.

To combat growing prices, it has also begun selling onions procured by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) in wholesale markets at reduced prices.

However, due to increased demand over the holiday season and dwindling supplies, onion prices have risen.

In Noida's retail market, inferior-quality onions cost Rs 50 per kilogramme, medium-quality onions cost Rs 60 per kilogramme, and superior-quality onions cost Rs 70 per kilogramme. 

As per a report by an onion specialist, R. K. Gupta, stated that onion prices were approximately Rs 40 per kilogramme before Navratri and have now reached Rs 60 per kilogramme in the National Capital Region. 

While prices increased in Maharashtra's producing region due to a 36% decrease in sowing area, low demand during Navratri prevented even bigger price hikes. The late-Kharif crop, which is likely to arrive in the last week of November, will assist in enhancing availability.

This price increase may also create an additional strain on millions of homes that rely on onions daily.