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Onion Rs 100 per kg in Patna, alarm bells ring in Delhi - Hindustan Times
Onion prices touched the politically-sensitive Rs. 100-a-kg mark in Patna, forcing a worried Centre to ask all state governments to come down heavily on hoarders.
The government, on Tuesday, also hinted at banning exports to contain the spiraling prices of onion, which is being sold at around Rs. 80-90/kg in most parts of the country including the national capital.
With five states going to the polls in December and general elections slated for early next year, the issue of price rise has become more political than economic for the Congress-led UPA government. And the sky-high prices of onion have given the opposition a potent weapon to attack the government with.
We have enough onion stock in the country. The state governments must act firmly against hoarders who are hoarding onions leading to the artificial scarcity and sharp escalation of prices, commerce minister Anand Sharma told reporters in Delhi.
According to the government, the domestic availability of onion has been affected to an extent on account of damage to kharif crop following unseasonal rains in key producing states including Maharashtra.
Sharma, however, said that prices of the essential commodity are expected to stabilise with arrival of fresh produce in the coming days and late kharif crop in December, he said.
Nashik-based NHRDF director RP Gupta too said that the kharif crop has been affected due to untimely rains in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The NHRDF, National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, is a government-run research body.
Currently, onion supplies are less than 50% of the countrys monthly estimated total demand of 9-10 lakh tonnes. The stored onions have also got exhausted now, adding to the price volatility.
India produced 16.3 million tonnes of onion last year.
An official said that the government mulling banning onion exports to contain rising prices.
Onion prices have gone up sharply. We are considering banning exports as there is not much scope to raise minimum export price (MEP), a senior government official said. Currently, MEP stands at $900 per tonne.
A ministry-level meeting has been scheduled later today to discuss this issue.
India consumes 88% of the total onion production and exports 10%.
In the Bihar capital Patna, onion price shot up Rs. 100 per kg forcing the people to cut down or even avoid the costly item.
Retailers attributed rising prices of vegetables to short supply from Barh, Bakhtiarpur, Samastipur and Patna city areas, where Cyclone Phailin caused heavy damage to crops. However, insiders in the trade said that the prices have been artificially jacked up by wholesalers who are trying to earn a fast buck by hoarding in the festive season.
A homemaker in Patnas Patel Nagar locality Shailja said that onions have become a luxury for most people.
This is precisely why we have stopped cooking non-veg dishes at home, as they requires onion. Even salad has disappeared from the plate. In fact, we are getting used to preparing vegetables without onions.
Coriander leaves, another item used in almost all dishes for its distinct flavour, is also slowly vanishing from the kitchen.
For, the leaves are now priced at Rs. 200 per kg, a three-fold increase in its price in less than a week.
Onion prices touched the politically-sensitive Rs. 100-a-kg mark in Patna, forcing a worried Centre to ask all state governments to come down heavily on hoarders.
The government, on Tuesday, also hinted at banning exports to contain the spiraling prices of onion, which is being sold at around Rs. 80-90/kg in most parts of the country including the national capital.
With five states going to the polls in December and general elections slated for early next year, the issue of price rise has become more political than economic for the Congress-led UPA government. And the sky-high prices of onion have given the opposition a potent weapon to attack the government with.
We have enough onion stock in the country. The state governments must act firmly against hoarders who are hoarding onions leading to the artificial scarcity and sharp escalation of prices, commerce minister Anand Sharma told reporters in Delhi.
According to the government, the domestic availability of onion has been affected to an extent on account of damage to kharif crop following unseasonal rains in key producing states including Maharashtra.
Sharma, however, said that prices of the essential commodity are expected to stabilise with arrival of fresh produce in the coming days and late kharif crop in December, he said.
Nashik-based NHRDF director RP Gupta too said that the kharif crop has been affected due to untimely rains in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The NHRDF, National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation, is a government-run research body.
Currently, onion supplies are less than 50% of the countrys monthly estimated total demand of 9-10 lakh tonnes. The stored onions have also got exhausted now, adding to the price volatility.
India produced 16.3 million tonnes of onion last year.
An official said that the government mulling banning onion exports to contain rising prices.
Onion prices have gone up sharply. We are considering banning exports as there is not much scope to raise minimum export price (MEP), a senior government official said. Currently, MEP stands at $900 per tonne.
A ministry-level meeting has been scheduled later today to discuss this issue.
India consumes 88% of the total onion production and exports 10%.
In the Bihar capital Patna, onion price shot up Rs. 100 per kg forcing the people to cut down or even avoid the costly item.
Retailers attributed rising prices of vegetables to short supply from Barh, Bakhtiarpur, Samastipur and Patna city areas, where Cyclone Phailin caused heavy damage to crops. However, insiders in the trade said that the prices have been artificially jacked up by wholesalers who are trying to earn a fast buck by hoarding in the festive season.
A homemaker in Patnas Patel Nagar locality Shailja said that onions have become a luxury for most people.
This is precisely why we have stopped cooking non-veg dishes at home, as they requires onion. Even salad has disappeared from the plate. In fact, we are getting used to preparing vegetables without onions.
Coriander leaves, another item used in almost all dishes for its distinct flavour, is also slowly vanishing from the kitchen.
For, the leaves are now priced at Rs. 200 per kg, a three-fold increase in its price in less than a week.
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