The prices of onions have reached the highest this year, with the average trading price at Rs 2,200 per quintal in the largest market of Nashik's Lasalgaon. The market usually sees arrival of around 3.5-4 lakh quintals per month, but that has dipped to 2.2 lakh quintals in August till now.
This price rise represents a more than two-fold increase over three months, with the onion prices being around Rs 1,000 per quintal till May owing to a bumper crop, The Indian Express reported.
On Wednesday, 21 August, the Centre had warned of strict action against hoarding of onions amid supply disruption fears due to floods in parts of major growing states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) had reviewed the price situation of onion during a high-level meeting chaired by the Secretary, DoCA, Avinash K Srivastava, an official release said.
Parts of major onion producing states, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, are reeling under floods, raising fears disruption of supplies.
"Onions for retailing by Safal is being made available at present from the government stock built under Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF)," said an official release after the meeting.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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