Weather may not have an effect on the turnout in Delhi assembly polls tomorrow but it has certainly impacted the onion prices that is historically famous for major political fallouts. In the wake of abysmally short supply of kharif crop onion this season, consumers in Pune, Mumbai and Delhi may have to shed few onion-flavoured tears as the retail prices are expected to shoot up by 10-15%.
The price rise will begin to pinch over the fortnight as onion supply from Nashik has reduced considerably due to unseasonal rain, hailstorm and inclement weather during last two months. The price rise is also attributed to the increasing demand unmet by short supply. While the price rise will be effective in Pune, Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra, the affect will soon be witnessed in national capital, Delhi, and in parts of Haryana and Rajasthan.
On an average Nashik receives rainfall of 1.7 mm during January which was crossed by 241% of the normal as the city received 5.8 mm of rainfall last month. Hailstorm during December also caused widespread damage to crops.
The average wholesale prices of onion have witnessed a rise of Rs 200 per quintal over the week from Rs 1,250 per quintal last week to Rs 1,450 per quintal. The kharif crop which is red onion containing high moisture content has a shelf life of just one month. Due to the characteristic, this onion is not stored for longer time and requires regular supply from onion growing states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Though farmers have sowed the rabi or winter crop of onion, its harvesting is expected only from mid-march which leaves onion sellers with a window of 1.5 months where they will be suffering from a shortfall.
