Wholesale prices of onion fell below Rs 30 per kg at the Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia’s biggest onion market, following curbs on exports and fear of action against hoarding.
According to the data maintained by Nasik—based National Horticultural and Research Foundation (NHRDF), wholesale onion prices today declined to Rs 28.50 per kg at Lasalgaon from the peak Rs 57 per kg in August.
“Prices are expected to come down further in the coming months because of improved supply via imports and fresh arrival of kharif onion crop in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka,” NHRDF Director R P Gupta told PTI.
The wholesale prices of onion at Lasalgaon are expected to be in the range of Rs 20—30 per kg in the coming days, he added.
State—owned MMTC has contracted 2,000 tonnes of imported onion from China and Egypt on behalf of the government to boost availability and check prices.
According to NHRDF, onion harvesting in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are in full swing, while harvesting in Maharashtra has just begun. The onion supplies are expected improve further as crop in most states is in good condition.