Eye on kharif output, govt expects stable onion, potato prices

NEW DELHI: Pinning its hope on the estimate of nearly 27% increase in area under onion cultivation and 12% rise in sowing of potato in this kharif season due to favourable monsoon, govt is hopeful prices will remain under control.
The area under kharif tomato is also higher than last year and crop conditions in Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh and Kolar in Karnataka are good and picking of tomatoes have started, which will arrive in the market in a few days.“Tomato prices will moderate in the next 7-10 days,” said a consumer affairs department official.
Officials said prices of onion have plateaued in the past one week and it will moderate since the quantity of Rabi onion released in the market by farmers is increasing due to higher mandi prices and onset of monsoon rains. Official data show that the average wholesale price of onion was Rs 3,397 per quintal on July 1 and on Friday, it was Rs 3,474.“The number of trucks transporting onion from Nasik to Delhi was in double digit on Friday. The increased supply will bring down price in the next few days,” a senior official said.
In an official statement, the department said that in collaboration with state govts, the agriculture ministry aims to achieve a sowing target of 3.6 lakh hectares for kharif onions this year compared to 2.8 lakh hectares in last season. Karnataka, the leading state in kharif onion production, has sown 30% of its targeted 1.5 lakh hectares. Sowing is also progressing well in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Karnataka has informed govt to achieve onion cultivation on 1.7 lakh hectares since climatic conditions are favourable. Bihar and Odisha have also agreed to sow onion on 1,250 hectares.