By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: In Mithapur wholesale market of Patna, onions are currently being sold at Rs 43 to Rs 46 per kilogram, while in the Anta Ghat market, the wholesale price has risen to Rs 46 to Rs 50 per kilogram. The wholesale rate in Mithapur, which was Rs 4,200 per quintal last week, has now increased to Rs 4,600 per quintal. Similarly, in Anta Ghat, the price has surged from Rs 4,300 last week to Rs 5,000 per quintal.
In the retail market, onion prices have soared to Rs 60 to Rs 65 per kilogram. This sudden spike is beginning to strain household budgets. Sudhir Kumar, a customer, stated that earlier, families used to purchase two to two and a half kilograms of onions, but now they are forced to make do with just one kilogram. He attributed the price hike to a reduction in supply, noting that the rising cost of onions is impacting daily meals.
Retail trader Shubhanshu Gupta explained that the increase in prices is due to the reduced availability of onions in the market. He added that two to four kilograms of onions are often discarded during sorting, which further contributes to the rise in retail prices.
Wholesale traders in Patna have pointed to a reduction in onion supply from major sources such as Nashik as the primary cause of the price rise. Ramkumar, a wholesale trader from Mithapur Mandi, explained that the flow of onions from Nashik has significantly declined, driving up prices. Similarly, Nagendra Prasad, a wholesale trader from Anta Ghat, noted that while onions were once supplied from Indore and Nashik, the current supply chain disruptions are causing a substantial price increase.
Economist Professor Nawal Kishore Chaudhary highlighted two key reasons for the surge in onion prices. Firstly, excessive rainfall in Maharashtra has damaged the onion crop, impacting the overall trade. Secondly, local traders are taking advantage of the reduced imports by hoarding stock to sell at higher rates. Professor Chaudhary suggested that regular checks by the district administration on large traders’ stocks could help curb black marketing and stabilise prices.
