PANJIM, DEC 23
In what can be termed as Christmas goody, Goa Government on Thursday announced that Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation’s outlets in the State will sell onions by almost half the price that of market rates.
“The Government has decided to sell onions at Rs 35 per kilo at all 350 Horticulture outlets and 246 mobile vans. Maximum two kg onions will be sold to a person,” Corporation’s Chairman Sankalp Amonkar told Herald adding that consumers can avail the benefit from Friday onwards.
The decision has been taken by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat following a meeting with Chief Secretary Sanjay Shrivastava, Agriculture Minister Vishwajeet Rane and Corporation officials at his official residence on Thursday evening.
Soaring onion prices across the country hit Goa market that completely depends on the import from neighbouring States. The prices have remained soaring due to crops being affected by incessant rains at onion-crop growing areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The Corporation is presently importing onions from Nasik and Belgaum at Rs 35 per kg. With the fresh decision, Amonkar said that the import will increase to 40 tonnes from 25 tonnes of onions.
In the open market, the prices have escalated to Rs 70 even as the import has dropped by about 60 per cent. The wholesale price of onion in Belgaum market costs approximately Rs 55 per kg while Maharashtra, onions are quoted at around Rs 70.
The wholesalers are however complaining that the onions are not of good quality. “The higher the price, onions are of good quality but onions which are Rs 35 are of extremely low quality,” Dayanand Amonkar, a local wholesaler for onion, told Herald.
Along with price rise, Goa is also facing problem in the availability of onions as neighbouring States are struggling to export the commodity due to drop in domestic production that are hit by unprecedented heavy rains.
The white-onions have been replaced by usual onions in Goa market although it’s not in demand among Goan consumers. “White onions are not preferred by Goans but since red-onions are falling short, we have to bring in the former at the wholesale outlets,” he said.
The rate of white-onions in Belgaum market is quoted at Rs 41 per kg which is being sold here at Rs 50 per kg.
Now after soaring prices of onions and garlic, the consumers will have to shell out more money for tomatoes, as well. While the rate of garlic is between Rs 200 and Rs 300 a kilo, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 40 per kg which was sold at Rs 30 till Wednesday.
