17 December,2010 07:24 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
With onion prices skyrocketing, hapless customers are looking at wholesale markets for cheaper options.
Mumbai's Byculla vegetable market sells vegetables, potato and onions at wholesale rates.
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Most vendors at Byculla say that since onion rates have increased, there are even more customers looking for the humble veggie at lower rates, so commonly used in all Indian cuisine.
The white onion
Mohammad Saleem, wholesale trader of onions in Byculla market he is getting more customers these days. "Customers who come here, ask for discounted rates," he said.
The Byculla market has four types of onions: Sookha kaanda (dry onion), Geela kaanda (wet onion), Kerala kaanda (Kerala onion) and Safed kaanda (white onion).
Just one indication of how the rates have zoomed is, earlier, the rate of these onions were just Rs 4-5 per kg. Now, there has been a tenfold increase to Rs 50 per kg.
Geela onion is currently available at Rs 25 per kg, however it was for Rs 5 only earlier. Dry onion, which was available for Rs 10-12 per kg, now costs Rs 50 per kg.
The dry onion is called as the best onion as it absorbs less oil while being cooked and is also good for health. It can be stored for more than two months and it will not stink.
White onion is mainly used for medicines and some people also use it in the salads. This costs Rs 70 per kg.
andu00a0 is not easily available in the market.
Kerala onions can be found at Abdul Majeed's Mangalore shop at Byculla market.
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This onion is mainly used in sambhar and rassam. It can be kept in good condition till one month.u00a0 This cost Rs 60 kg but earlier it was Rs 40 per kg.
Rizwan Khan, who has been selling onions at Byculla market since 10 years said, "Customers are crying (literally) because of the rates."
