Prices of Rice, Basmati and Both non basmati, have also increased. In some cities the price of tomato is Rs 100 per kg, which is affecting the pockets of the people.
“There was heavy rain in the last two months which has affected both onions and tomatoes. Shriram Gadve, President, Vegetable Growers Association of India, told ET that the stored onions have got spoiled due to rain, which has affected the prices.
In metros like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, the retail price of onion is now around Rs 50-60 per kg.
“Onion prices will fall only when the new crop arrives, which is around the third and fourth week of November. Before that, we don’t look to reduce prices. The new crop has been delayed due to heavy rains.
Jaychandra Muthyala, director of Nashik-based Jayachandra Foods, said heavy rains in the southern part of the country have damaged the onion crop in the region, which is why Nashik is now meeting the entire demand.
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are the major onion producing states, accounting for more than 75% of the total summer onion production. In all these states, the onion crop has been delayed or damaged due to rains.
tomato prices The sky has skyrocketed in the last fortnight and in places like Kolkata they are selling at Rs 100 per kg.
Vegetable trader Swapna Mandal said that the recent rains have spoiled the crop. “Also, there is festive demand, which is pushing up the prices. It will take at least 15-20 more days for the prices to come down.
In the case of potatoes, the early crop in September has been damaged due to rains in West Bengal, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. As a result, potatoes stored in cold storages are under pressure to meet domestic consumption, resulting in over 60% increase in prices at the wholesale level.
Rice prices have increased by 10-15% due to the damage to the Kharif crop due to rains. A Kolkata-based rice dealer said, “The rising fuel cost is further affecting the prices as traders are trying to cover the transportation cost.