PANJIM: Cyclone Phailin has led to a spurt in onion prices with the ensuing rains, which reached as far as the plains of Ahmednagar and Nashik in Maharashtra ruining the crop in the country’s biggest onion producing region.
Director of State Horticulture Corporation Orlando Rodrigues said that the demand of Belgaum onions has now shot up leading to increased prices.
“The effect of cyclone Phailin has led to rains even in Ahmednagar and Nashik and surrounding areas. Because of this the crop has rotten. While in Northern Karnataka there was no effect, there has been a demand for onions from that region now,” Rodrigues said.
Onions have touched Rs 52 a kilo even at horticulture outlets over the last week and the price is expected to take another two weeks to stabilize.
“We have been bringing onions from Chikmagalur (in Karnataka), but these are of a different variety, one that is not preferred by Goans as they are red as opposed to pink,” Rodrigues added.
Prices of other vegetables have remained stable.
