The price of small (sambar) onions up in Koyambedu
Posted on: 17/Apr/2016 5:32:15 PM
The price of small (sambar) onions has gone up to Rs. 32/- per kg in the Koyambedu vegetable wholesale market.
It is reported that reason for this increase in prices is the reduced quantity of onion reaching Chennai.
Tamil Nadu stands in the 1st position in the production of small onions in the country. Out of the total production of small onion in the country, 80 percent is produced in the state of Tamil Nadu.
Small onions are grown in the districts of Dindigul, Trichy, Permbalur, and Tirupur.
Over the last few months, the price of small onions was steady at Rs.20/- or below. As the quantity of arrival has reduced, the price of small onion has gone up to Rs. 32/- per kg.
In the retail market, small onion is sold at Rs. 35/- to Rs. 50/- per kg. In the organic shops run by the Cooperative Department, sales of onion have been stopped for the last 10 days.
The Consultant of the Koyambedu Market Traders Association, Mr. Soundararajan, informed that around 15 loads of small onions were arriving at Koyambedu daily during the months of February & March.
Now, this has been reduced to 8 loads, reduction by more than half. So, the price of small onion has increased due to shortage of quantity.
The Assistant Professor in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,Mr. Arumugam, explained that the farmers sent the stock of onions harvested during January to the market till the month of March.Now, the stock would have depleted and hence, only reduced quantity is sent. Next harvest of small onions is scheduled during the month of May. The onions harvested during May can be kept for 6 months.
