Prices of onions down in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: It is a huge sigh of relief for homemakers, as prices of onions which had touched above Rs 80 a kg in the two Telugu states is easing off. The prices of onions on Wednesday in the Hyderabad market is Rs 45 a kg. The price fall in onions is due to the intervention of the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh state governments. The two Telugu state governments are purchasing onions from Nasik and selling them at subsidised rates in the local markets.

The prices of onions shot up as the heavy rains affected the crop in many states. This resulted in shortage leading to the prices of onions hovering between Rs 60 to Rs 80 a kg in India.

The vigilance department is checking the inventories of onions as some traders are creating an artificial shortage. The department has been raiding godowns where huge stocks of onions are being kept.

To control the prices of onions the YSRCP-led government in Andhra Pradesh is selling 100 metric tonnes of the bulbus vegetable at subsidised rates. The AP government placed a purchase order for 300MTs of onions from Nasik and is purchasing it directly from the MarkFed.

The YSRCP-led government is using funding support from price stabilisation fund to sell the onions at subsidised rates.

Meanwhile, onion farmers staged a dharna at the Kurnool Market Yard in Andhra Pradesh. Farmers expressed concerns over the prices of onions dropping below Rs 2,000 a quintal. The prices of onions suddenly fell from Rs 4,500 a quintal on Tuesday to Rs 2,000 a quintal on Wednesday.