The retail prices of onions that have been rising alarmingly for over a month have now touched Rs. 70 per kg, sending consumers’ budgets haywire.
On Monday, wholesale prices of onions from Nashik, Maharashtra, touched Rs. 60 a kg. Traders in Koyambedu wholesale market recall that the prices of onions from Maharashtra had previously touched Rs. 70 a kg two years ago. But, unlike other cities like Delhi and Mumbai, there is some solace for Chennai as it gets some stocks from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Even the onions from Andhra Pradesh are priced at Rs.40 a kg in wholesale market because of demand from other States as well.
A reduction in onion crops this year and lack of rains had led to the steep hike in prices, said S. Chandran, a wholesale merchant.
Some customers have switched over to using small onions that are cheaper this season. They cost Rs. 30 a kg in Koyambedu wholesale market.
The city receives truck loads from various parts of the State, including Tiruchi, Theni and Dindigul.
While imports from Egypt are expected to bring down the price, traders here say it will not have any impact in Chennai, which normally gets 70-80 truck loads of onions every day.
50 truckloads
But now, it gets only 50 truckloads, mostly from neighbouring States, according to V.R. Soundararajan, a wholesale trader.
Some online grocery stores are luring customers with discounts. V. Yuvasri of Mogappair, who buys groceries online, plans to do the same with onions as well. “Many of them offer one kg of onions for Rs. 58 per kg and it gets delivered to doorstep,” she said.
Meanwhile, wholesale traders in the city say prices of onions may remain high for a month.
The cost of most other vegetables, including beans and carrot, has come down since July.
