With heavy arrivals of small onion (shallots) in major wholesale markets across the state, there is a remote chance of staple's price rising in March and April, says a survey by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
An analysis by TNAU's Agro-marketing Intelligence and Business Promotion Centre has revealed that the price of good quality small onion will prevail around Rs 22-24 per kg in these two months, as against the current rate of Rs 25 per kg.
At present, small onion arrival is very high in Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Perambalur and Tirupur markets, thus affecting farm harvest prices. In Dindigul, the good quality shollot is costing around Rs 25 per kg, it said.
Hence, farmers are advised to take appropriate sowing decisions as per the market advisory, the report suggested.
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of small onions in India, accounting for 90 per cent of the production.
The centre analysed farm gate prices of small onion in the last 12 years in the Dindigul wholesale market, besides conducting trader's survey, before arriving at the price behaviour.
