Onion prices have skyrocketed even in the month of Kartik, rising nearly 30 rupees per kilo in the last 15 days. Across villages and cities, onion prices have jumped from 40-50 rupees to 70 rupees per kilo. Despite a lower demand for onion and garlic during Panchuk, this significant price hike has left people shocked.
Reacting to the spike, Food Supply Minister Krishnachandra Pote stated, “Onion prices are high in Nashik as well, where it’s sold at 45 rupees per kg. Since we don’t produce enough, we need to source onions from there. We have directed Nafed to sell onions at 30 rupees per kg.”
Odisha’s annual demand for onions is approximately 5 lakh metric tonnes, with residents consuming over 40 thousand tonnes each month on average. However, Odisha’s onion production is minimal compared to this demand. The state produces around 60 thousand tonnes of onions per year, but this harvest only lasts for two months. As a result, Odisha largely relies on neighboring Andhra Pradesh to meet its onion needs.