Egyptian onions reach TN, price slides to 100

After breaking previous records and sending household budgets haywire, onion price in the State has started to dip. The price of onion at Koyambedu market on Monday was Rs 100 for a kilogram.

Vendors said that the price is expected to come down to the usual within two weeks.

M John Valthari, secretary of Onion Merchants Association, said, “The price of onion was Rs 165 per kg on Sunday as we had received only 15 to 20 truckloads in the past one week. Now, we received 50 truckloads from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and we reduced the price to Rs 100. It is expected to fall by 10 to 15 per cent within a week.” “The sale was dull for the past one month as the prices were doubled. We were receiving loads from Nasik. On Monday, the sales have picked up again after a few weeks,” he added.

The prices were reduced to Rs 90 per kg last week, and after two days it again increased to Rs 150 per kg. whereas, in retail shops, it was sold for Rs 200 per kg.

Vendors said that other vegetable prices have also decreased in the market. Currently, tomato is being sold for Rs 25 per kg, potato for Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg, beans for Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg, broad beans for Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg and carrot for Rs 25 to Rs 30 per kg.

Skyrocketing onion prices have come down a bit with around 60 tonnes of onions imported from Egypt reaching Coimbatore and 40 tonnes in Tiruchy on Monday.

As the first load of onions reached the wholesale MGR market in Mettupalayam near Coimbatore, the prices came down, bringing some relief to public.

The price, which soared upto Rs 200 per kilogram in retail over the past few days, has come down to Rs 140. Traders at Gandhi market in Tiruchy sold onions at Rs 100 per kg.

The price of imported onions from Egypt was much lower at Rs 110 for a kilogram in Coimbatore. Sources said that incessant rains in Mharashtra led to heavy crop loss and that caused the shortage in supply and the respective hike in prices. From MGR market, the onion was taken to various other markets across the city.

“The shipments from Egypt reached Maharashtra and from there, they were brought to Coimbatore. With more imported onion loads expected to arrive in the coming days, the prices may further ease a bit,” said S Venkadesan, a wholesale trader in MGR market.

However, traders said that the public are apprehensive about using imported onions and continue to prefer the local varieties. Due to the steep price of onion, hotels and eateries have been avoiding it in food items. Biriyani shops in particular were hit by the rising onion prices.

Though 40 tonnes from Egypt arrived at Tiruchy on Monday morning, it had a poor reception among the public. “They were initially afraid to purchase the imported variety, doubtful of the its quality. When the shipment reached here, it was wet and the traders had to dry them in the sun,” said Venkatesh, a merchant from Gandhi Market.