The price of the vegetable has skyrocketed across the country.
The price of onions in Kolkata touched Rs 160 per kg on Thursday, amid a national crisis over the deficit of onions resulting in skyrocketing prices for the vegetable. Onions were being sold in Kolkata at Rs 140 per kg on Wednesday and a sack of onions cost Rs 4800 at the wholesale market. However, in the span of one day, the rates have hiked further, showing the enormity of the crisis.
The price of onion in other parts of West Bengal -
Malda - Rs 120-130/kg
Burdwan - Rs 150/kg (in Nilpur Market)
Berhampur (Murshidabad) - Rs 150/kg
Jhargram - Rs 150/kg
Alipurduar - Rs 120/kg
Durgapur - Rs120-125/kg
Hooghly - Rs 140/kg
Nadia - Rs 120/kg
Meanwhile, in the latest thread of bizarre statements by politicians in this country, Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, while referring to the talk around rising onion prices in the country, said that she does not consume much of onion-garlic herself, adding that she comes from a family which did not have to do much with the vegetable. However, she also addressed the crisis over rising onion prices in the country and said that the government was taking several measures to address this issue, including a ban on exports, supplying the produce from the surplus to deficit areas of the country, sorting out the structural issues regarding onion storage, and eliminating 'middlemen' in onion trade through the direct benefit transfer scheme.
Amid concerns over rising prices of onions, the government on Tuesday revised the permissible stock limits for the commodity with immediate effect. The centre has also announced that will import 11,000 Metric Tons (MT) of onion from Turkey in addition to 6,090 MT from Egypt. The supply from Egypt will arrive in India in the second week of December while consignment from Turkey will reach the Indian shores in January 2020.
Last month, the Union Cabinet had approved importing 1.2 lakh tonnes of onion to improve the domestic supply. Exports have already banned and a limit has been imposed on stock-holding for wholesalers and retailers for an indefinite period.
Currently, onion is being sold at Rs 100 per kg in most of the Indian cities.
Also Read:
Amid rising prices, Centre revises onion stock holding limit for retailers, wholesalers
These hilarious memes on soaring onion prices will surely make you laugh!
1. Kolkata: Imbalance in supply
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Onions were being sold in Kolkata at Rs 140 per kg on Wednesday and a sack of onions cost Rs 4800 at the wholesale market. However, in the span of one day, the rates have hiked further, showing the enormity of the crisis.
According to sources, 21 trucks loaded with onion had reached West Bengal from Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, but only 11 trucks arrived on Wednesday night, resulting in an imbalance in supply, which took shape in the price hike of as much as Rs 20 in a day.
2. Five markets in North Kolkata to stop selling onions
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Vegetable sellers at the Maniktala Bazar had earlier announced that they would not be selling onions until the prices normalized again. On Thursday, sellers in five more key markets in North Kolkata, including Kankurgachi, decided to follow suit and stop selling onions. It has also been noted that the customers, too, are stopping short of buying onions due to the sky-high price, and are looking for alternatives.
3. Sky-rocketing prices, onion theft
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Onion prices soared to Rs 140 per kg in various markets in West Bengal while it touched Rs 150 per kg in Hyderabad. Due to sky-rocketing price, onion theft has also been reported from various parts of the country. Just recently, a farmer in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur alleged that his onion crop worth Rs 30,000 was uprooted and stolen from his field by thieves.
In Hyderabad, the wholesale rate of onions is around Rs 120-140/kg depending on the size and variety. The rates also fluctuate given the current scenario.
4. Govt to import onions from Egypt, Turkey
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Meanwhile, amid concerns over rising prices of onions, the government on Tuesday revised the permissible stock limits for the commodity with immediate effect. The centre has also announced that will import 11,000 Metric Tons (MT) of onion from Turkey in addition to 6,090 MT from Egypt. The supply from Egypt will arrive in India in the second week of December while consignment from Turkey will reach the Indian shores in January 2020.
Onion Prices in Rajasthan -
Bharatpur - Rs 90-100/kg
Alwar - More than Rs 100/kg
Jaisalmer - Rs 80-100/kg
Barmer - Rs 80-100/kg
Hanumangarh - More than Rs 80-90/kg
Jodhpur - Rs 100/kg
Sirohi - Rs 70-80/kg
Kota - Rs 120-130/kg
Bikaner - More than Rs 100/kg
Sikar - Rs 70-80/kg
5. Onions at Rs 59/kg at 'Sufal Bangla' stalls
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However, back in Kolkata, at the state government-sponsored 'Sufal Bangla' stall in Kankurgachi, onions are still being sold at Rs 59/kg. Customers have flocked to the streets to get a chance at buying the vegetable at affordable rates.
According to the state government, Sufal Bangla is a unique initiative by Department of Agricultural Marketing, Government of West Bengal which aims to provide an easy interface between producers and consumers and benefit both the farmers and consumers.
