Onion Prices Surge in Hyderabad Amid Delayed Rains

Hyderabad: Just two months after the price of tomatoes came down from an eye-watering Rs 200 per kg, the price of onions in the market has surged to alarming levels again. This time it has doubled in just a week's time.

Vendors across the city are attributing this price hike to insufficient and delayed rainfall, which has adversely affected onion crops.

Just two weeks ago, the staple vegetable was available to consumers at the reasonable range of Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg.

Today, buyers are shelling out around Rs 50 per kg, squeezing household budgets. At supermarkets they're being sold at Rs 53 and at Rs 55 on grocery delivery applications.

Farmers and vendors in the area have expressed concerns, citing the unseasonal weather conditions as the primary factor. "We rely heavily on timely rainfall to support our crops. October is usually marked with good rains but this year saw no trace of it," said Ramulu Addu, a local onion vendor.

"This year, the rains were heavy during July but barely thereafter, and that's causing the scarcity and consequently the soaring prices," said another vendor Latha.

"It's challenging for us to maintain a consistent supply at these costs. We understand our customers' predicament, but there's not much we can do about it. We, too, are facing the brunt of these unexpected price hikes," she added.

The adverse impact of the price surge is not just limited to vendors but is also felt by customers.

Namrata Puri, a consumer at a supermarket, shared her frustration. "Onions are a kitchen essential, and we use them daily. It's not really replaceable, but I hope it'll (price) come down soon," she said.

Another customer Anoki Verma, a homemaker and regular shopper at Latha's stall said, "The sudden spike in prices has disrupted our monthly budget plan. I have got to figure out alternatives to reduce our onion consumption to cope with the hike."

Mubin Sk, who runs a panipuri stall, said customers who have asked for extra onions in the past two days have been left disappointed. "They didn't even know about the hike until I told them that they can have only one round of onions," he said.

This onion price crisis is expected to persist until the end of November, according to the vendors.