Parallel to the continuous rise in sugar prices ahead of the holiday season, which is causing political disputes, onion prices are also showing a sharp increase, leading to public dissatisfaction. There has been a sudden and significant rise in the cost of onions.
In retail trade, the price per kilogram of onions has reached 60-65 rupees, whereas previously it was 30-35 rupees per kilogram.
Potatoes, onions, and tomatoes are vegetables commonly used daily in the kitchen, and their price increases negatively affect household budgets. This situation is currently being observed. According to reports, the surge in onion prices has affected regions such as Delhi-NCR, Nashik, and Chennai.
According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average retail price for onions was about 42 rupees per kilogram, which is approximately 19-20% higher than a month ago. In Delhi-NCR markets, onions are sold at a price of 60-65 rupees per kilogram. In Nashik, the cost of onions increased by more than 70% in one month.
Due to the sharp jump in onion prices, the government is preparing to start distributing onions from its reserve stocks to ensure supplies in cities where shortages and rapid price increases are observed.
This rapid rise in onion prices occurs while sugar prices have already dampened the festive mood. Sugar prices have increased in the country, and in just a few days, the retail price exceeded 65 rupees per kilogram or even more. Over a month, the price rose by approximately 15%.
Issues of sugar pricing have become the subject of heated political debates in India. The opposition uses sugar as a major topic for criticizing the government, claiming that the use of sugarcane for ethanol production leads to a reduction in sugar supply in the country, which causes the rise in sugar prices. However, the government under Narendra Modi has rejected these accusations, stating that there is no shortage in the country and that ethanol is not the cause of the price increase.