Even Goa State Horticulture Corporation Limited (GSHCL), the government-run corporation that aims to provide vegetables at a cheaper rate, is forced to increase onion prices.
On Monday onions in the horticulture corporation stalls were selling at between Rs 55 and Rs 60 a kg, which is the wholesale rate at Belgaum and Kolhapur markets. In the open market, onions were priced between Rs 65 and Rs 70 a kg, which is an increase of over 100% from the price last month.
Speaking to Herald, (GSHCL) Managing Director Larry Barreto said, “Currently we are selling onions at the wholesale rate which we buy from Belgaum. We do not charge the transport cost while selling the vegetables, but the rates of onion are high in Belgaum so we are also forced to sell it at the same rate.”
Barreto said that if the inflationary trend continues, onion prices at the corporations’ stalls would also increase. Queried about the reason for the onion crisis, he said, “There is shortage of supply because there is a drought in neighbouring states which has affected onion cultivation. The climatic change is affecting the market.”
The only reason for a smile is that the retail prices of other commonly-used vegetables have dropped. Beans for instance, that last month were being sold at Rs 100 to 120 per kg are now available at Rs 50 per kg, while ginger and garlic which were sold at Rs 160 per kg are now selling at Rs 100 and Rs 120 respectively. Tomato prices too have dropped and are being sold at Rs 30 a kg.
