Indian onions

Vegetable prices in India have significantly decreased as a result of good supplies throughout the country in the last fortnight.

Onion, tomato and potato prices have registered the most notable falls, declining 20-25 per cent. Drops in these staple vegetables will assist in a decrease in food inflation more broadly, which has been a major concern for the government.

In particular, the drop in onion prices will come as a major source of relief to the country, where this staple produce had trebled in price from December last year.

'Onion prices have crashed because supplies have improved from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh,' says Atul Sahay of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) from Pimpalgaon.

'The price at Pimpalgaon is hovering around Rs 1,000-1,100 per quintal (US$18.41-US$20.25 per 100kg) and will come down further when the Sukhsagar variety from West Bengal enters the market. The price will not be more than Rs 800-900 per quintal (US$14.72-16.57 per 100kg) from next week.'

Vegetable traders forecast continued low prices for their produce until June this year.