Onion prices have risen by around Rs 5 per kg in the open market in the last three months because of low inventories with farmers and hoarding of existing stocks. ?Currently, onion is arriving in various markets and prices are ruling high as compared to June 2008,? an official statement said on Monday.
The statement added that prices also increased because the current season was a lean period for onion cultivation. ?Scanty rain in the onion-producing areas of Nasik in Maharashtra and Gujarat delayed sowing of the kharif crop,? the statement added.
Onion prices moved up by around Rs 5 per kg in spot markets at Delhi in the last one month, due to low supplies and currently rules at Rs 15 per kg.
The government said that there were still 2.2 million tonne of onion with farmers and traders that should be sufficient to meet local demand till November. ?But the farmers and traders are brining their stored stock of onion in mandies (markets) slowly to get benefit of the high prices in the near future,? the statement added.
On the prices of potato, the government said that prices were currently ruling lower than 2007 because of the presence of adequate stocks. In Delhi, potato prices rule between Rs 300-Rs 400 per quintal, with model rate of Rs 350 per quintal.