This year, Santa Claus had a special gift for Mumbaikars -- after weeks of fluctuation, the onion prices steadied.
This year, Santa Claus had a special gift for Mumbaikars -- after weeks of fluctuation, the onion prices steadied.
Ashok Valunj, director of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (for the onion and potato market) said, "The price of onions today has been steady. The current stock is from Nashik and Ahmednagar. By January 1, we can expect fresh stock from Pune."
Traders however aren't so optimistic and believe the prices might increase by Monday. Many blame the media for creating a scare.
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| Men dressed as Santa Claus distribute free onions on the road side in Amritsar on December 23. PIC/ NARINDER NANU |
Megharam Parihar, a farmer and trader said, "In APMC, the prices have been quite steady, between Rs 25 to 35 per kg on an average, and the good onions for about Rs 40 per kg."
Currently, onions are selling between Rs 40 to 60 per kg in the market, and unlike the past three weeks, which saw the prices escalate from Rs 35 per kg to Rs 100, they remained steady on Saturday.
In the past week itself there were many fluctuations in the price of onions. In Byculla, fresh stock was selling for Rs 40 to 45 per kg, while in Pali Hill, the rates are expectedly higher at Rs 50 to 60 per kg.
Nandalal Gupta, a vegetable vendor from Bandra, said, "There is absolutely no stock in Dadar, where I buy my vegetables from. I'm buying onions for Rs 40 to 50 and selling them for Rs 50 to 60. The really good ones are selling for Rs 60 a kg."
Salim, a wholesaler in Byculla, said, "Now that there is a new crop coming in, the rates will reduce." The onion rate in Byculla is Rs 40 to 45, while small onions of the old stock are selling for Rs 25 a kg.
Valunj further clarified that the rumours of a famers' protest were false, but confirmed that at present, the availability of onions was low.
