ONION PRICES SOAR TO RS 70 PER KG

PANJIM: Onion prices continued to soar high due to heavy shortage following largescale damage to the crops, bringing a tear in the eyes of the consumers. Onion prices went up by 50% in less than a week, with the price shooting up to Rupees 70 per kg on Monday in Mapusa, while it sold at Rupees 60 a kg in Panjim and Vasco.

In Margao's SGPDA market onions were sold at Rupees 50 a kg. The prices are unlikely to drop soon. The skyward prices of onions was forced due to high prices in procurement markets such as Belgaum, Hubli and Nasik from where Goa gets its onions.

Panjim market vendor Tabrez Makashi said, "Wholesale onion price in Belgaum and Hubli, from where we procure them, was Rupees 60. This is extremely high and traders who earlier ordered 10 sacks of onions are now placing an order for just two sacks." One of the primary reasons for the shortage of onions is unprecedented rains, says Vasco vendor Prashant Naik. "The onions we get are wet. Often, in a 50 kg sack about 10 kg have to be thrown out since they are spoilt.

Earlier we used to order five quintals of onions, now we buy just one quintal."

Rising onion prices affect caterers, fast food joints

Another Panjim vegetable vendor said, "There is no respite from the price hike for now. Onion prices will rise to Rupees 80 a kg in the coming days." Many Goans have had to go without their favourite snack of hot and crispy onion pakodas (kandha bhajis) already due to last week's prices of onions. Margao kiosk owner Ravindra Mauli said that for the last two weeks when onion prices went up to Rupees 35 to Rupees 40 a kg, many in the town stopped preparing onion pakodas. Mauli added that bhelpuri is, however, still being sold at Rupees 15 a plate, but if onion prices don't fall in five days, the price of bhelpuri may have to be increased. Onion prices have also affected the catering business. Margao caterer Sandra Colaco said, "It has affected my business. Most Goan snacks contain onions, so I have increased the prices."

There was no relief for buyers as outlets of the Goa State Horticultural Corporation Ltd (GSHCL) did not receive their regular supply of onions on Monday. GSHCL managing director Orlando Rodrigues said, "The corporation did not buy onions as Sunday's auction price was Rupees 62 a kg in Belgaum. In Nasik too, prices were Rupees 60 a kg. We managed to get some stock from Belgaum and hopefully on Wednesday we can resume the supply. The rate will be between Rupees 50 and Rupees 55, but it will take at least a month for the prices to stabilize." Naik said, "A reduction in prices is likely only after January 2011. Farmers have sown the crop in October, November and it takes three months before it can be harvested.

The new crop will be ready by January end." Corlim-based teacher Seema Gaonkar said, "With the price of onions touching an all time high, we have to ration our vegetable intake. Very soon we will have to stop eating vegetables and switch to eating fish." (TNN)