Onion arrival at Lasalgaon APMC shrinks, new production hit

Nashik, Oct 23. With production of new onions taking a hit due to rains and rates of the old variety of the bulb continuing at a record high, the common man may have to endure the double whammy as there's no respite in sight ahead of Diwali. While only 510 quintals of old onions arrived today in the country's largest Lasalgaon agricultural market produce committee (APMC) in the district, the arrival of the new red onions stood at 1950 quintals, sources said, adding the delayed Kharip crop is expected only by January 2014. With the supply shrinking at major APMCs at Lasalgaon, Pimpalgaon (Baswant) and Yeola APMCs, the old onion was auctioned at Rs 5972 per quintal at Lasalgaon and the new bulb at Rs 4400-4500 per quintal. Sources said the arrival of new onions was affected due to rains during just-concluded Navratri festival, and this has sent the retail rate of the old variety of bulb at Rs 70-80 per kg. In Pimpalgaon APMC, onions (old variety) were sold at Rs 6200 and in Yeola APMC at Rs 5852 a quintal.