Hyderabad: Onion prices have climbed sharply, with retail rates reaching Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 per kilo. The price stood at Rs. 50 per kilo a week ago, while it was only Rs. 20 two months earlier.
Traders said the price of onions in the Malakpet agricultural market had reached Rs. 5,200 to Rs. 5,500 per quintal. Meanwhile, the market was receiving onions only from Maharashtra.
The market was reportedly selling 5,200 to 6,000 quintals of onions each day. Traders said delayed arrivals had contributed to the recent rise in onion prices.
According to traders, yields have declined while demand has increased following the monsoon. As a result, retail consumers are now paying significantly more for onions than they did two months ago.
The price has nearly tripled from its level two months earlier. Traders linked the increase to lower availability and stronger demand in the market.
Onion prices rise as PMAY houses are allocated
Separately, Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar announced that the Centre had allocated two lakh houses to the state under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The allocation came in addition to houses sanctioned earlier.
The minister said Andhra Pradesh had received an allocation of three lakh houses. Meanwhile, the Centre is providing Rs. 1.75 lakh for the construction of each house.
Officials will use the ‘Awas Plus’ mobile app to identify eligible beneficiaries. The minister said the process would help ensure transparency while identifying beneficiaries for the housing scheme.
The two developments were reported from Hyderabad on September 15. While onion prices continued to rise, the Centre announced fresh housing allocations under the PMAY scheme.