Date:23/10/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/10/23/stories/2005102302510300.htm

Back 'Onion prices to stay firm till mid-Nov'

Dhimant Bhatt

Mumbai , Oct. 22

THERE may be no let up in the spiralling onion prices till mid-November as fresh inflows in Maharashtra are expected to gain momentum only by then.

The prices of onion (wholesale) at the Vashi wholesale onion market are now ruling higher at Rs 160-220 per 10 kg based on quality.

Meanwhile, retail prices are hovering around Rs 24-25 per kg in Mumbai. The city consumes about 800 tonnes per day.

"Daily inflow of new onion has decreased by 50 per cent from producing centres such as Nashik and Pune; it is now limited to 70-80 truckloads against 150 truckloads, normally. There is a shortage of onion in Mumbai for the last one month. This trend may continue for another three weeks," Mr Rajendra Raskar, Secretary of Kanda Batata Adaat Vyapari Sangh, told Business Line.

"There is no sign of pick up in supply, at least before the middle of November. Fresh arrivals of onion are late by about 40 days," Mr Raskar said.

Normally, fresh inflows start around Dussera (mid-October)every year, but this time around there has been a delay on account of the heavy floods that struck the State in August.

"Due to heavy rains, major stocks of onion kept at various places including Nashik suffered heavily, and the quality of stored onion was affected," he said.