Onion shortage to continue

Wholesale prices of Lasalgaon today remained at Rs 2,180 per quintal theaverage being Rs 2,125 per quintal and fresh arrivals dropping from the normal 700-800 tractor trailorloads each carrying 30 quintals to a meagre 170 tractors.

Patil pointed out that though the price level was up to Rs 2,180 per quintal, it was applicable only to the best quality of the crop comprising about 25 per cent of the arrivals. The remaining 75 per cent of the crop was being sold at prices ranging from Rs 400 per quintal onwards, a fair quality being available for Rs 900 per quintal.

On his earlier proposal of entering into an annual agreement with consumer bodies to ensure the supply of onions, he said the offer till stood, provided some consumer bodies took interest in it. He, however, said that since the price fluctuation in the onion market was extreme 8212; from Rs 250 per quintal to Rs 2,300 per quintal 8212; the price at which the Lasalgaon APMC would supply onions round the year would be fixed accordingly.