PANAJI
Goans got partial relief from the soaring onion prices as the State's Horticulture Corporation's outlets and mobile vans are selling the quintessential ingredient in household kitchens at Rs 56 per kg since Friday.
The price of onion in the open market ranged between Rs 75-80. According to traders in the Panaji market, fresh stock of onion arrived from Belgaum but it is damp and there is a risk of it perishing.
Prices of onion have been increasing since mid-October due to the showers witnessed and damage to crops. The Centre had intervened and increased the export duties but prices didn't fall much and at the start of this week hit the Rs 80 per kg mark in the Panaji market.
At the beginning of October, onion was sold at Rs 30 to 34 per kg but after October 18, the prices rose sharply and more than doubled in 15 days. Traders said the prices are expected to remain high for at least the next 8 to 10 days.
Earlier in July, prices of tomatoes had similarly increased to up to Rs 150 per kg and intervention of the Central government managed to bring down the prices only in October.
In the case of onion, the Centre has decreed that export will not be permitted below the price of Rs 67 per kg until December 31, in a bid to control prices in the domestic retail markets.
