Rise in onion prices temporary phenomenon: Pawar

Wholesale prices of onion at Lasalgaon in Nashik, Asia's largest onion market, have increased by more than five folds to Rs 20.50 per kg today from Rs 3.55 per kg in the year-ago period, according to government data. A similar increase is seen in the retail prices across the country.

"Prices have hardened as onion area in Maharashtra, the major growing state, has been affected due to drought. Rise in prices is a temporary phenomenon," Pawar told PTI.

Stating that onion is grown in areas dependent on rains, the Minister said that onion area in drought-hit states like Maharashtra has been affected but overall production would be sufficient to meet the domestic demand.

"I had visited the key onion areas yesterday, the crop from other parts of the states is good and availability will improve in the coming weeks," he said.

According to Nasik-based National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation (NHRDF), area under onion crop is down by 10 per cent from 10.87 lakh hectare this year.

NHRDF Director R P Gupta said: "Prices of onion are rising in anticipation of a drop in output. But we expect overall production to be same at last year's level of 174 lakh tonnes. Productivity is expected to be higher and there will not be shortage of supply."

As per the official data, retail prices of onion have increased to Rs 28 per kg now from Rs 13 a kg in the year-ago period in most parts of the country.

Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat are the top three onion growing states in the country which suffered drought. Last year, onion production in India stood at 174 lakh tonnes.