Low onion arrivals due to strike mar onion trading in Delhi

Normal activities returned to wholesale onion markets in Delhi a day after traders called off strike, but retail prices of the kitchen staple continued to rule at a higher level of Rs 50-60 a kg in the metros.

Delhi's Azadpur mandi (Asia's biggest fruit & vegetable wholesale market) witnessed normal daily trading today, following lifting of the stir by traders yesterday afternoon, Chairman of Delhi Agricultural Market Board (DAMB) Brahm Yadav said.

Similar was the situation in Okhla subzi mandi, he added.

But, the trading in the two markets was low key due to dwindled supply of the important veggie from the feeder states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, he said.

"Due to strike yesterday lesser numbers of vehicles had left for Delhi yesterday due to which supply of onion has been as low as 162 tonnes today," Yadav added.

Delhi requires a minimum of 400 tonnes of onion a day, the DAMB chief added. 

Yadav and General Secretary of Onion Merchants Association Rajendra Sharma exuded confidence that the supply would increase substantially from tomorrow with entry of more vehicles tonight.     

Additional quantity of onion from Pakistan is also all set to reach Azadpur market soon, Yadav added. 

Supply crunch had its impact on the wholesale price at Azadpur which was as high as Rs 50 a kg in comparison to Rs 45 yesterday, the two said.

Subsequently, the veggie sold at Rs 50-60 per kg in retail outlets in the national capital. News from other metros were no better. 

Onion was available at Rs 50-65/kg in Mumbai in the retail. Similarly, it was Rs 50-55 a kg in Kolkata and Rs 65/kg in the Southern metropolis in retail counters, trade sources said.

Though there was a fall by Rs 3 a kg in the wholesale market of Lasalgaon in Nashik district in Maharashtra as compared to yesterday's Rs 33/kg, wholesale rate of onion stayed steady at Pimpalgaon (also in Nashik) at Rs 35/kg, according to NHRDF (National Horticultural Research Development Foundation) data.

Citizens of the national capital breathed a major sigh of relief yesterday after traders ended their indefinite strike following a meeting with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.