The price hike is being attributed to shortage in supply of kharif onion from the country’s top producer Maharashtra, which is affecting other states as well.
In just seven days, the price of onion at Apni Mandi in the city shot up by 100%, from ₹35 per kg on 23 October to ₹70 per kg on 29 October.
Amid rising prices, the central government on Saturday imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne (₹67 per kg) on onion exports till December 31 to ensure domestic availability.
“Onion export is free. A MEP of $800 FOB (Free on Board) has been imposed till December 31, 2023,” the Director General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.
In Chandigarh, Mandi Supervisor of Punjab Mandi Board, Harpreet Singh, at Dadumajra Apni Mandi, said onion prices have increased every day in the past week, except between Saturday and Sunday.
Onion is the most expensive vegetable in most of the vegetables. Carrot is selling at ₹70 per kg, okra at ₹60, bitter gourd at ₹50 and cauliflower at ₹35.
Other kitchen staples are also cheaper, with potatoes at ₹25 per kg and tomatoes at ₹30 per kg.
“This time the supply of onion has been disrupted due to heavy rains during the monsoon season. Onion consumption also increases during the festive season in October/November, coinciding with the wedding season. If the supply does not improve, their prices may go up further,” Harpreet said, adding that locally produced onions were also not in supply, while traders had started hoarding onions noting the shortage, which would make matters worse.
