Onion prices likely to drop even further

Nashik: Onion prices have dropped and are likely to drop further due to two major reasons i.e. shortage of labour and lesser exports, sources said on Tuesday. The minimum rates for the lal variety of onion fell by Rs 6 per kg to reach Rs 4 per kg on Tuesday as compared to Rs 10 per kg on Friday, February 23. Meanwhile, minimum rates for the unhal variety of onion fell by Rs 4 per kg to reach Rs 5 per kg on Tuesday as compared to Rs 9 per kg on Friday.The Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) chairman Jaydatt Holkar said, “During the holi festival, most of the labourers return to their native states. Hence, there are less labourers available for loading, unloading, and filling onion sacks

” Hence, prices of onion will be lower during this holi season, he said.

Speaking about onion export, Mr .Holkar said that though the minimum export price (MEP) is now zero, onion from China and Pakistan is selling at cheaper rates, affecting exports. “Domestic and export merchants too are purchasing less onion and the prices are low,” he said.

Farmer Sudhakar Godse of Sansari said, “Harvests and stocks of the lal variety are depleting while early unhal harvests have begun.