Onion prices may rise further this Diwali

PUNE: Concerned that onion prices, which are already high, may spike further during Diwali, due to continuous rains in key onion growing state of Maharashtra and also Karnataka, the government has ordered agricultural mandis in Nashik to curtail their Diwali holidays. Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka have been getting heavy rains almost every day in October, resulting in slightly higher onion prices this month.

At Lasalgaon APMC in Nashik district, average wholesale onion prices have increased from Rs 16kg to Rs 23kg between October 1 and October 13, up 43%.

Similarly, wholesale prices have increased by 34% in New Delhi, and 42% in Bengaluru and Indore during the same period.

“The government is concerned about the impact of the ongoing rainfall on the onion prices, especially in Delhi. The holidays have been curtailed in order to ensure that the supply chain is not disturbed,“ said a trader who did not wish to be identified.