Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has advised onion farmers to sell their crop immediately, since storage was not a feasible option as per prevailing market trends.
TNAU also suggested that farmers sow small onion in May-June to get better prices in August-September, Domestic and Export Market Intelligence Cell (DEMIC) in TNAU, said.
An analysis by DEMIC of the last 10 years' prices in Dindigul and Ottanchattiram markets in Tamil Nadu revealed that the price would rule around Rs 13 to Rs 15 per kg at farm level during May-June for better quality bulbs.
It would be Rs 10 to Rs 12 per kg for average quality.Bigger bulbs with good colour and less moisture content are characterised as better quality and others under average quality.
If there was continued heavy rainfall in Palladam, Tirupur, Udumalpet and Coimbatore during harvesting season, there was likely increase in farm level prices of beyond Rs. 15, it said.
TNAU said harvested crop not suitable for storage due to high temperature with low air flow is expected to lead to a more than 30 per cent loss.
Prevailing prices have stabilised at around Rs 10 per kg at farmgate level for the last one month, DEMIC said.
