Onion prices double in Nashik

The average wholesale onion prices in various markets across Nashik district doubled on Wednesday compared with the last month's tags because of lower arrivals and a surge in demand.

On Wednesday, retail prices of onion in Nashik, a major national hub, quoted in the range of Rs 10-12 a kg. The demand for the commodity has seen a sudden rise in the domestic and the international markets in the last one month and is spurring the prices. The prices increased in the range of 50 to 110 per cent in various Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across Nashik compared with those a month ago. The average wholesale prices were Rs 800 a quintal (Rs 525 a quintal a month ago) in Lasalgaon APMC, Rs 825 (Rs 551) in Pimpalgaon, Rs 860 (Rs 411) in Yeola and Rs 800 (Rs 380) in Nashik APMC.

Nashik district is a major onion market in the country, with an annual output of about 12 lakh tonnes, including all the three crops "" kharif, rangada and rabi. Maharashtra produces around 30 per cent of the country's total onion output, with Nashik contributing 35 to 40 per cent of the state's production.

On Wednesday, 5,850 quintals of onion were sold at Lasalgaon APMC, 10,860 quintals at Pimpalgaon APMC, 5,040 quintals at Yeola APMC and 506 quintals at Nashik APMC.