 "Potato, onion prices firm up on prospect of delay in harvesting")
Data compiled by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) showed the wholesale price at Rs 605 a quintal in the benchmark Delhi market on Thursday, from Rs 550 a quintal on Tuesday, despite a sharp rise in arrivals that had been interrupted due to rain. As against 749 tonnes on Tuesday, potato arrivals into Delhi were 1,416 tonnes on Thursday.
The retail price in Delhi, however, remained at Rs 1,000 a quintal.
Pune was another market where the price recorded a jump. From Rs 1,200 a quintal on Tuesday, fresh potato jumped to Rs 1,400 a quintal on Thursday, despite daily arrivals being unchanged at 250 quintals. A rise of Rs 50 to Rs 550 a quintal was reported in Bhopal and other markets across the country.
“Despite reports of sporadic crop damage, the overall potato output is unlikely to decline significantly this year. We don’t deny a delay in harvesting due to deep mud in the field that might interrupt supply to mandis temporarily. But, there will be no long-term effect on availability,” said R P Gupta, Director of the Nashik-based National Horticultural Research & Development Foundation.
NHB has forecast output this year at a record 42.17 million tonnes, as against 41.56 mt in the previous crop year (July-June). Potato sowing was estimated at 1.99 million hectares this year as compared to 1.97 mn ha the previous year.
In contrast, a city-based leading onion exporter said the quality would be hit due to high moisture content in the yet-to-be harvested crop.
Onion output this year, according to NHB, is estimated to fall marginally to 19.36 mt, from 19.4 mt last year. Sowing was reported at 1.19 mn ha as against 1.2 mn ha the previous season.