Onion Prices Touch Rs 80 Per Kg in Telangana as Supplies Tighten

<p>Onion prices across Telangana have been rising sharply over the past several days, with retail rates climbing from around Rs 40 per kg to Rs 60 and now touching Rs 80 per kg in several markets. The jump is putting noticeable pressure on household budgets, with consumers who could earlier buy nearly 3 kg of onions for Rs 100 now getting significantly less for the same amount.</p>
<p>Traders attribute the sharp rise to a shortage in supply driven by delays in the arrival of the new crop and adverse weather conditions in major onion-growing regions. Heavy rains in parts of Maharashtra have reportedly affected onion crops, with some fields inundated. At the same time, inadequate rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh, including the Kurnool and Anantapur regions, has also hurt production.</p>
<p>The strain on supply is clearly visible in wholesale markets. At the Malakpet onion market in Hyderabad, daily arrivals that were earlier around 25,000 bags have now declined to approximately 15,000 to 17,000 bags, according to traders.</p>
<p>Telangana is heavily dependent on Maharashtra, particularly the Nashik region, for its onion supplies. Onions from Maharashtra are transported to markets in Peddapalli, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Sircilla and other parts of the state. The state also receives onions from Karnataka and the Kurnool region of Andhra Pradesh. Any disruption in supplies from Maharashtra therefore has a direct impact on prices here.</p>
<p>The price rise is not limited to Telangana. Markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and across the Telugu states have also seen higher onion prices as arrivals from major producing regions have slowed.</p>
<p>Farmers say they are currently receiving around 30 to 40 percent higher returns compared to earlier periods, a silver lining for producers even as consumers bear the brunt of the increase.</p>
<p>The Kharif onion crop has not yet arrived in sufficient quantities, and traders say prices are expected to remain firm, with a possibility of further increases until fresh arrivals pick up. The situation may ease around December, when the new crop is expected to reach markets in larger quantities.</p>