Navi Mumbai: Supply of onion dips due to heavy rains, prices rise

The heavy rain in the first two weeks of May has impacted the supply of onion and its prices have started rising. In one fortnight, the price of onion has seen around 40 to 50% rise in the wholesale market and even the retail price has also started rising.

Normally, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Vashi receives around 90 to 140 trucks laden with onion per day. However, for the last few days, the supply has come down and the number of trucks arriving at the market is around 60 to 80 which is insufficient to meet the requirement. The Vashi APMC supplies essential commodities to the MMR area and a dip in supply affects its prices across the MMR.

As per the data shared by the APMC administration, the supply of onion on June 1 was 7449 quintals which came down to 5811 quintals on June 17. “The drop in supply is due to heavy rain. Apart from trouble in the supply chain, a huge quantity of onions was also destroyed in the rain,” said a trader from the APMC Vashi.

According to traders, the price of premium quality onion is around Rs 35 per kg. “The market is not receiving all good quality onion. A big part of the arrival is wet onion which will rot very fast and the recovery of the cost will be very difficult for both wholesale and retailer,” said the trader.

Mohammed Alim Shaikh, a vegetable retailer from Nerul says that the quality of onion is not good and it cannot even store for a week. “Most of them are wet and it needs to be consumed immediately,” said Shaikh, adding that the price of onion has already touched Rs 40 per kg.