Onion gets dearer by Rs 5

The delay in arrival of kharif onion crop has led to the rise in prices of onion in the city markets. From Rs 5,good quality onions now cost Rs 10 per kg. Traders said that the onion that is being sold is the summer onion crop which starts deteriorating with the onset of winter. The sowing of kharif onion was delayed in many districts including Nashik,the biggest producer of kharif onion,due to deficient rainfall. Onion production and supply of vegetables was also delayed in Narayangoan and Ahmednagar districts. A trader from Nashik said kharif crop would not enter the market till the last week of October,thereby pushing up prices further. “Onion prices in the city were stable for the past three months due to good production of the summer crop. Onion production in Andhra Pradesh,Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka was also low due to drought-like situation. It would take at least a fortnight for Kharif onion to reach the markets,” said Anil Korpe,wholesaler,Pune Agriculture Market Produce Committee.