Onion auctions in Nashik’s Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) resumed this morning after a day-long boycott by traders following income tax raids.
Supply, therefore, in Vashi APMC restored to pre-strike levels between 80-90 trucks (10 tonnes each) from 170-180 trucks on the previous day.
Additional supply to Vashi APMC was affected for one day with arhatiyas (commission agents) diverting transportation from Nashik. Now, that the market has resumed operation, trucks from the vicinity in Lasalgaon moved to local mandis resulting in lower supply to the Vashi mandi, said Ashok Walunj, director of Vashi APMC.
However, prices remained at Monday’s levels at Rs 20-35 per kg following an additional supply on the previous day. Onion prices are likely to remain upbeat until Makar Shankranti which falls on January 15.
“After that, supply from Pune and Gujarat gradually picks up and that may bring some respite to the consumers,” said a Mumbai-based trader.
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He said onion prices will not come down to the Rs 8-10 per kg level this year because output in major producing states including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka had slumped.
A merchant from the local APMC said income tax (IT) officials had started checking accounts books of Nashik-based onion traders without notice but when they were told that the quality of the new crop is poor having a day’s shelf life and it can not be hoarded, they were convinced.
Merchants were assured by local politicians and trade bodies that IT officials will not harass them unnecessarily in the future. Following the assurance the strike was called off. An import consignment of 10 containers of 25-30 tonnes each will reach the Mumbai port today and will be available in local mandis in three days. This may bring down onion prices marginally, the trader added.