Onion price spikes to Rs 60/kg

PANAJI: The sudden increase of onion price to Rs 60 per kg in the retail market has come as a pungent surprise to consumers as well as vendors.

On October 19, onions were being sold for Rs 50 per kg in Panaji’s bustling markets. In just one week, this essential ingredient’s cost has risen. Even at the humble horticulture outlets, the pink bulbs cost Rs 56 per kg — the price was Rs 48 per kg until last week.

Vendors in Panaji and across Goa face a predicament. With their supply chain closely linked to Belagavi, the increase in onion prices there has a cascading effect on the prices they can offer to their customers in Goa.

“As wholesalers in Belagavi charge higher prices for onions, the vendors in Panaji are left with no choice but to increase the rates in the Goan markets to maintain their profit margins,” said Sameer Shaikh, a vegetable vendor. “This has affected individual consumers who rely heavily on onions as an essential ingredient.”

The inconsistency of the monsoon in the neighbouring states led to a significant drop in the kharif crop production and caused prices to spike, vendors say.

“The arrival of fresh kharif onions was delayed due to erratic rains,” said another vendor, Imamkasib Mokashi.

Consumers are concerned and many are contemplating reducing their onion consumption or substituting the bulb with other ingredients to reduce the financial pressure.


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