Onion, potato scarcity triggers price rise
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 08 2024: With Naga bodies in Senapati district shutting down the national highway over varied reasons affecting the Naga community, stocks of essential commodities are beginning to deplete in Imphal.

Source said that stocks of potato, onion, eggs and edible oil are most affected items with wholesalers in Imphal city facing rapid exhaustion of stocks.

Onion price rose by Rs 5 in just a day with the price per kg reaching Rs 80 as on Friday against Thursday's rate of Rs 75.Potato now costs Rs 45 per kg while garlic is sold at Rs 280 per kg.

At the same time, price of eggs that cost Rs 1440 per carton on Thursday reached Rs 1550 on Friday.

Some retailers in Imphal city area told The People's Chronicle that they are not able to replenish stocks from major wholesalers in Imphal.

They also suspected some major wholesalers are hoarding the goods and creating artificial scarcity to take undue advantage of the highway bandh.

The most affected population by the current situation are the displaced people in the relief camps and local clubs and organisations running the camps as they generally purchase the products in bulk.

The Centre on Thursday said 840 tonnes of onions have arrived by rail rake in Guwahati to boost its availability in northeastern states.

In an official statement, the Department of Consumer Affairs mentioned that it "maintains tempo of bulk disposal as a shipment of 840 tonnes onion by rail rake arrived at Changsari Station in Guwahati on 5th November 2024".Onion is being distributed by the NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers' Federation) in various districts of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other northeastern states.

"This will ensure wider availability of onions in north-eastern states ensuring its availability at a very reasonable price to consumers," the statement added.

Bulk transportation of onions from Nashik to major destinations like Delhi, Chennai and Guwahati by rail rake has been adopted for the first time this year for a more cost-effective and efficient disposal.

The government had procured 4.7 lakh tonnes of onion for the price stabilisation buffer this year, and started releasing from September 5, 2024, through retail sales at Rs 35 per kg and also through bulk sales in major 'mandis' across the country.

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