Cabbage prices go up as onions become unaffordable

PUNE: As retail onion prices cross the half century mark, cabbage has replaced onion where ever possible, especially in the hotel and catering industry. This has led to increase in cabbage prices in Maharashtra.

"Whenever the onion prices increase, cabbage prices too go up," said Ajay Belhekar, farmer from the vegetable growing belt of Narayangaon from Pune district.

During last 15 to 20 days, the farm gate prices of cabbage have increased o Rs 10/kg to Rs 14/kg from Rs 5/kg to Rs 7/kg.

In normal times, cauliflower prices are higher than cabbage prices. However, with increase in onion prices, cabbage has become expensive than cauliflower. "Hotelier replace cabbage for onion in salads, pakoda, Chinese food etc," said Belhekar, who heads a farmers' group that supplies vegetables directly to customers in Mumbai and Pune.

However, cabbage has not replaced onions everywhere in the country. In the national capital, household consumers have substantially reduced cabbage consumption from last one year, say major wholesalers.

"People have not been eating cabbage due to the rumours about its ill effect on health. It is now mostly used by hotel industry, the roadside eateries and poor people who eat cabbage because it is cheap," said Sanjay Bhagat, general secretary, Simla Gobhi Association, Azadpur APMC.