The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Onion prices on an upswing in city

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Monday, Jan 05, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Onion prices on an upswing in city

S. Sandeep Kumar

Poor production in State and depleting supplies from surrounding States

In a span of two weeks, prices have almost doubled
Onions being sold on subsidy at Rythu Bazars

-PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL.

Precious commodity: Onions being sold at a whopping Rs. 21 a kilo in the city on Sunday .

Hyderabad: The rocketing onion prices are bringing tears to the eyes of city dwellers this festive season. The price per kilogram of onion that was fluctuating around Rs. 12 last fortnight has now increased to Rs. 24 in supermarkets and provision stores.

Such is the shortage of onions in the open market that the Marketing Department was forced to sell onions on subsidy at Rs. 10 per kg from Saturday at different Rythu Bazars in the city.

According to traders, the sudden increase in onion prices is due to poor production in the State and depleted supplies from surrounding States, including Maharastra and Karnataka.

“In a span of two weeks, the prices of onions have almost doubled in the city. This was unexpected, at least not this festive season,” fumed Sharada Devi, a teacher and resident of S.R. Nagar.

Cashing in on the situation, supermarkets and provision stores have jacked up the onion prices across twin cities. While the grade one quality is available in supermarkets and leading provision stores, the second grade quality onions are being sold at about Rs. 15 per kg on pushcarts.

Generally during winter season onions are supplied from Kurnool and other Rayalaseema districts but owing to poor production this year there is a short supply, said Erragadda Rythu Bazar Estate Officer K.R. Vijaya Kumar.

This apart, supplies from Maharastra and Karnataka have also gone down this year. The scanty supplies will continue till summer season when production in the State commences, he informed.

Long queues

Meanwhile, housewives and customers made serpentine queues at different Rythu Bazars in the city to purchase onions. Such was the demand that three tonnes of onions were sold in five hours at Erragadda Rythu Bazar on Sunday and two more tonnes were brought to meet the demand, said Mr. Kumar.

However, customers complained over the poor quality of onions being sold at Rythu Bazars. “Providing subsidy is not enough, authorities should also ensure quality. For every kilogram nearly 100 grams of rotten onions are dumped,” complained Madhava Rao, a customer.

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