Besides, as a large quantity of the crop has been affected by bacterial rot disease, they cannot be stored, the survey found.
Market rates at the onion markets at Lasalgaon, India’s biggest wholesale hub for onions, and neighbouring Pimpalgaon show that the market prices at present are ranging from R500 to R1,800 per quintal, with a modal rate of R1,000 to R1,100 per quintal. This shows that only a small quantity of good quality onion is arriving in the market, fetching higher rate for growers. About 90% of the produce coming in the market is of mixed quality i.e. good and rain soaked, and accordingly the rates are being fixed by the purchasers.
The NHRDF said that since farmers do not have separate storage facilities for rain-drenched onions, they are forced to sort out onions which are rotting and dispose them before they perish in the market. Some onions have a shelf life of just one-and-a-half months.
Because of the huge variation in the quality of onions, the prices are also differing with traders willing to pay good prices for onions that can be stored, he pointed out. Gupta says that atleast 20% of the Rabi onion has been affected because of rains during the harvest.
