Onion output may fall by 20-30% in 2011
Onion production is likely to decline by about 20-30% this year due to deficient rainfall in the major producing regions of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
"Major producing regions of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat have received less rainfall this year and therefore, onion production could fall by about 20-30%," National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF) Director R K Gupta told PTI.
India produced over 14 million tonnes of onions in the 2010-11 crop year (July-June).
Kharif sowing of onions got delayed in these states because of deficient rains and this will have an adverse fallout on the arrival of fresh onion crops in the market.
"Kharif onions, which generally reach the market by mid- September, are expected to get delayed to October-end or November first week now," Gupta added.
The NHRDF was set up by cooperative NAFED in 1977 to guide farmers, exporters and other concerned stakeholders on how to improve the productivity and quality of horticultural crops like onions, garlic and potatoes.
Gupta said major onion producing regions in Maharashtra, like Nashik, Dhulia and Ahmadnagar, Saurashtra in Gujarat and Dharwad and Hubli in Karnataka faced a paucity of rain.
Prices of the vegetable have started soaring now amid a supply crunch due to the exhaustion of last year's stock of the crop and the delay in arrival of fresh kharif produce for the current year.
According to NHRDF data, wholesale prices of onions have gone up on an average by Rs 4-8 a kg since August this year in prominent cities like Delhi, Nashik, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Patna.
The government has already swung into action to check rising wholesale and retail prices of onions and has raised the minimum export price (MEP) three times since June.
Last week, it raised the MEP by $45 per tonne to $275 a tonne to discourage shipment of onions outside the country and boost domestic availability.
The MEP of two superior varieties -- Krishnapuram and Bangalore Rose -- was also raised by $50 per tonne to $400 per tonne.