Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: There seems to be no respite from the soaring onion prices as it touched Rs 50 per kg on Tuesday in the leading markets of the state.

Consumers who were expecting a drop in the onion prices now have been disappointed as it soared once again after being in a little control in last ten days.

While the price shot up to Rs 50 a kg in almost all leading markets of the state capital, a similar situation was seen in Cuttack. During the third week of December, the rate was Rs 60 a kg which later fluctuated around Rs 30 to 40 giving a little relief.

Even on Monday it was Rs 46 a kg at Krushak Bazaar and Chhatra Bazaar, the two leading wholesale markets of Cuttack. The same rate was seen at Unit-1 market here. But surprisingly the price shot up to a whopping Rs 50 a kg on Tuesday.

Albeit price rise has been attributed to low productivity, traders believe the deficit in inflow of the humble bulb in godowns to be the reason behind the price rise in retail markets.

“Since we get few amounts from the suppliers, it is a tough task for us to tackle the mounting demand of consumers. And since demand is higher than the supply the price soars,” said Sanjay Pal, an onion trader.

The state has witnessed a four fold rise within the last seven months in the price of the vegetable. While it was available at Rs 11 a kg in June last year, the price rose to Rs 19 in September and touched Rs 26 and 33 in November and December respectively. And now it has reached Rs 50 a kg in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar while the commodity is available at Rs 48 in Berhampur, Rs 45-50 in Puri, Rs 50 in Khurda and Rs 45 to Rs 50 in Balangir and Sambalpur.

Even Delhi is facing a stiff price of onion with Rs 60 to Rs 70 a kg, the soaring price is expected to come down after onions from Maharashtra and Gujarat will come to the market in the mid January this year.

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