Maha elections over, onion prices start to cool down
Times of India | 22 November 2024
Kolkata: The retail price of onions across city markets started to cool off, thanks to improved supply from Nashik, Maharashtra, often referred to as the onion basket of India. The high-stakes election campaign across Maharashtra had hurt onion supply to Bengal, pushing up prices significantly. After threatening to breach the Rs 100 per kg mark, onion prices dropped to Rs 60-Rs 65 per kg at most retail markets on Thursday. However, eateries and food vendors are still being forced to scale back onion usage — and supplement it with alternatives, like radish — because the price remains abobe Rs 50 a kg.
The surge in onion prices — from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 80 per kg in just a week — had a noticeable impact on the city's food scene. Several eateries, restaurants, and street vendors resorted to either eliminating onions from their offerings or significantly reducing their use. While some consumers adapted to the change, others expressed dissatisfaction.
"We have been serving sliced onions with brinjals for years. But for the past few days, we've had to cut back due to the high prices. While many regular customers understand, new customers often complain," said Pallab Saha, an eatery owner in central Kolkata.
Santosh Shaw, who runs an eatery in Sealdah, said, "We've had to ration onions, giving one slice instead of two or three. It's challenging, as many customers still ask for onions after being served their meals."
The iconic Sethi Eating House in Kalighat has put up a "No Onion" notice at the counter. "The notice will stay until prices normalise. We're eager to bring back onions as soon as we can afford them," said a waiter.
Street food vendors at Dacres Lane — a hub of affordable delicacies — are feeling the pinch as well. Arun Shaw, who sells chowmein, egg rolls and chili chicken, cut back on onions in his preparations. Another vendor, Kalipada Roy, increased prices to offset the rising cost.
At Kasba near Acropolis Mall, a biryani and roll outlet has started using cucumbers alongside onions in rolls. "We don't want to compromise on our preparation but we've had to reduce the quantity of onions," said owner Prabhat Roy.
Kamal De, a member of the govt's market task force, predicted a further dip in onion prices when Bengal's own harvest enters the market from the second week of Jan. This is expected to make onions more affordable, bringing relief to consumers and businesses alike.
For now, though, the steep prices continue to strain budgets.