Onion retails at ₹60-70 a kg in Buldhana; water shortage threatens rabi planting

Buldhana: Onion prices in the district's markets have climbed to as much as ₹6,000 a quintal, pushing the retail price to ₹60-70 a kilo. Coming just ahead of Dasara and Diwali, the rise has upset household budgets, with homemakers using onion sparingly, and hotels and breakfast-cart vendors are feeling the pinch too.

Traders say stored onions spoiling and limited arrivals of the new crop are behind the rise. With stocks already low, there are fears that prices will climb further if arrivals of new produce fall, though future rates will depend on production, the area planted, market arrivals and storage.

Low rainfall this year has left less water in ponds, small dams and wells, and the groundwater level has fallen, so there is no certainty that wells and borewells will supply enough water for rabi crops over a long period. Khamgaon, Malkapur, Motala and Sangrampur talukas account for most of the district's onion planting, and the area under onion there is expected to shrink this year because of the poor rain.

Source: Navarashtra