Onion prices up 10-20%

The wholesale prices of onion in Nashik district's various Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) markets have increased by 10 to 20 per cent to Rs 750 per quintal just within a week. At Nashik's retail market on Wednesday, onions were sold at Rs 8-10 per kg.

Meanwhile, regular arrival of Kharif onion has almost begun at Nashik district's APMCs. The arrival of Kharif crop, which basically begins in October, is delayed due to unseasonal rains that had hit some parts of the Nashik district in the first week of November.

As a result, the average wholesale prices of onion, which were at Rs 350 per quintal before Diwali, have reached up to Rs 750 per quintal today.

This week, wholesale prices of onion have increased by 10 to 20 per cent compared to last week.

In the district's APMCs on Wednesday, the average wholesale price of onion was Rs 750 per quintal at Lasalgaon APMC, Rs 651 per quintal at Pimpalgaon APMC, Rs 500 per quintal at Nashik APMC and Rs 600 per quintal at Yeola APMC.

On Wednesday, 7,000 quintal of onions were sold at Lasalgaon APMC, 13,800 quintal of onions at Pimpalgaon APMC, 7,500 quintal of onions at Yeola APMC and 350 quintal of onions at Nashik APMC.

According to market sources, the wholesale prices onions in the APMCs may be stable by the end of this week. But, the arrival of Kharif crops in huge quantity in the next couple of weeks may cause reduction in prices.

Nashik is the major onion market in the country. The district produces about 12 lakh metric.