Lasalgaon fresh produce wholesale market in India: Stable supply caused onion prices to fall

Onion prices usually rise in November in India, a lean month when availability decreases. This year, however, the constant supply has caused prices to collapse. Wholesale prices fell to their lowest level in a year in November at the fresh produce wholesale market of Lasalgaon, Asia's largest onion trading hub. The prices of some foodstuffs, where seasonality plays a major role, are often volatile. Onion is one of them. Traders say the government routinely releases onions from its buffer stock to keep retail prices stable. In Lasalgaon, the average quality onion is sold at a wholesale price of ₹10-15 (€0.11-0.17) per kg, while cultivation costs are ₹22-25 (€0.25-0.29) per kg, according to Bharat Dighole, President of the Maharashtra State Onion Growers' Association. The federal government has set aside a record reserve of 250,000 tons of onions for 2022-23 to absorb possible price spikes during the lean season that ...