Onion prices double, tomato prices triple

BANGALORE: Yashodhan G of Rajajinagar couldn't believe his ears as he stood at Malleswaram vegetable market on Thursday morning. Onion was selling at Rs 45 per kg and tomato Rs 80 per kg. A few weeks ago, he could have bought almost two kgs of onion and three kilos of tomato for that money.
Be it carrot, green peas, cabbage, capsicum or potato, vendors were quoting higher prices for almost all vegetables ? in fact almost double of what they charged a week ago.
Though vendors across markets in the city attribute the steep hike in prices to the scarcity of rain and crop loss, customers say vegetable sellers are just trying to make a fast buck now. In fact, vegetables like tomato (Rs 56 per kg), onion (Rs 37) and potato (Rs 34) are cheaper at Hopcoms outlets. But the supply is limited. Traders say rising demand from other states, specially neighbouring ones, has caused prices to go up in local markets.
Around 300 tonnes of tomatoes are being supplied to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and New Delhi, leaving barely 50 tonnes for local markets, said R V Gopi, president, Wholesale Vegetable Merchants' Association. "These states have also received scanty rainfall, resulting in a low yield of vegetables. Traders from neighbouring states directly contact the farmers in Kolar and other districts and place orders. Local farmers are ready to meet their demands as the vegetables fetch good rates," he added.
Pragati CN, a homemaker, believes that apart from the truant rain, vendors are also to blame. "They know that people can't do without essential vegetables like onion, green peas and potato. So they are making the most of the situation by hiking the rates," she rued.
"We used to get 10 truckloads of onions every day. Now, it has come down to five. This being the Ramzan season, there is a massive demand for onions as it is the main ingredient of samosa," said Mohammad Ibrahim, a merchant from Russel Market.
Onions to bring more tears
If you thought Rs 45 per kg is bad, there's worse to come. Data available with the horticulture department reveals that onion production has been hit due to insufficient rains in May and June, the sowing season for the crop. Areas like Tarikere in Chikmagalur, Jagalur in Chitradurga, and Gadag and Hubli districts, which are key onion producers, are set to suffer losses. Crop loss in Karnataka means its dependence on Maharashtra, which supplies produce only later in the year. In short, prices are only expected to shoot up.