Onion supply to state drops, prompts price rise fears

BENGALURU: The prices of onion may rise as farmers have not cultivated the crop in adequate quantities in the state this time. Thus, there is all a probability that onion prices will shoot up in the coming days.

A merchant, Veeranayak, said, “The farmers who cultivated onions were facing difficulties due to lack of yield after heavy rains last year, and they did not get good prices for their crop. Even this year, due to the uncertain monsoon, the onion crop in the state has seen a significant decrease”.

“In the meantime, the quantity of onions coming to the state from Maharashtra is dwindling. In the light of these factors, the prices of onion may shoot up in the coming days. The farmers have borrowed heavily and are facing the burden of debts repeatedly due uncertain rainfall”, he added.

Chandrasekhara Reddy, another trader, said amid the menace of middlemen, farmers do not get remunerative prices for their crops. As a result, they will fall into debt traps. “Due to natural calamities like floods and drought, the farmers’ condition has not improved, and they are not growing onion in sufficient quantities for fear that they will not get a good price in the market. About 50 per cent of the farmers have not cultivated onion crop this time compared to the previous year. The present price ranges between Rs 600 to Rs 1,300 for 50 kg at the APMC and may increase further in coming days.  Therefore, the price of onions in the state is expected to increase significantly”, he explained.