Onion prices to come down as fresh crop arrives in market

New Delhi, Nov 12 (UNI) Farm commodity prices, which is monitored by the Department of Consumer Affairs, have remained steady or have shown mixed trend in different centres across the country in the week ending November 6.

According to an official statement issued here today, wheat prices remained steady in majority of reporting centers except for an increase in Mumbai and decrease in Ahmedabad.

Sugar prices remained steady in majority of the centres. Prices increased in Shimla, Mumbai and Agartala and decrease in Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

Gram prices remained steady or decreased in all the reporting centers except for an increase in Lucknow and Hyderabad.

Tur dal prices remained steady at most of the reporting centers.

Prices increased in Lucknow, Shimla and Chennai, and decrease in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Urad dal prices remained steady at all the reporting centers except for an increase in Delhi and decrease at Lucknow, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Moong dal prices remained steady at all the reporting centers except for an increase in Delhi and Kolkata and decrease in Ahmedabad.

Masoor dal prices remained steady in most the reporting centers but increased in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

In Delhi, prices of masoor dal, vanaspati and tea remained steady over one week; prices of rice, gram dal, sugar, mustard oil, milk and salt remained steady during the month; prices of wheat, and atta remained steady for six months. Prices of urad dal, moong dal and onion increased while prices of tur dal, groundnut oil and potato decreased during the week.

As regards to Onion prices, it indicates that the overall kharif onion area in the country is expected to be less by about 20 per cent and production is expected to be less by about 18 per cent compared to last year, because of inadequate and delayed rains earlier and excess rains later on.

Stored stocks of onion are at present available mostly in Maharashtra and Gujarat and overall almost 4.0 lakh metric tonnes (MT) stored stock is still available for consumption during November.

The fresh onion harvesting has started in a few parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Major kharif crop harvesting in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh is continued.

Fresh crop arrivals from Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra will increase from November-end and first fortnight of December.

The harvesting of major kharif crop in Rajasthan will start after first fortnight of November.

The prospect of late kharif and rabi onion have increased and availability is expected to be better for these crops December onwards because of good rains.

As on November 7, the status of imports of pulses have contracted import of 9.37 million tonnes of pulses this year, out of which about 4.47 million tonnes has arrived at the ports.

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