<p>The ongoing ban on onion exports has dealt a blow to farmers and traders in the state, resulting in a significant drop in wholesale prices of onions to as low as Rs 5 per kg for certain varieties.</p>.<p>The Government of India implemented the export ban from December 2023 to March 2024 due to soaring market rates and limited domestic availability.</p>.<p>Ravishankar B, secretary of the Bengaluru Potato and Onion Merchants Association, identified the export ban as a primary factor behind the price decline.</p>.Onion, tomato, poultry price fall makes home food cheaper by 3-5%.<p>He said: "If the ban is lifted and exports resume, we anticipate a price increase of Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg."</p>.<p>Countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia traditionally imported substantial quantities of onions from the state, he added.</p>.<p>Hopeful of reaping benefits like last year, many farmers cultivated onion as a second crop, said Mahanthesh, an onion farmer from Challakere, Chitradurga district. "Local farmers sowed too much until October-November, hoping to earn Rs 3,000 and more per quintal, the way they did last year. This has led to surplus supply,” he said. </p>.<p>He said the ban allowed flooding of onions from Maharashtra, preferred for export, further driving down demand for local produce. </p>.<p>At the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Yard, Yeshwantpur, onion wholesale prices currently range between Rs 5 and Rs 20 per kilogram, contingent on size and quality.</p>.<p>For the best quality onions, wholesale rates per kg are Rs 15 to Rs 20, Rs 10 to Rs 15 for second quality, and Rs 5 to Rs 10 for small-sized Golta onions.</p>.<p>Contrastingly, the previous month witnessed rates varying from Rs 25 to Rs 44 per kg for different sizes and qualities.</p>.<p>While retail markets in the city display significantly higher rates, a supermarket in Richmond Town offered one kg of onions at Rs 24, another in HAL 2nd Stage sold onions at Rs 35 per kg, and a small grocery store in Shanthala Nagar priced onions at Rs 40 per kg.</p>.<p>A store representative justified the higher price, saying: “We must account for fuel and transportation costs from the APMC Yard.”</p>
<p>The ongoing ban on onion exports has dealt a blow to farmers and traders in the state, resulting in a significant drop in wholesale prices of onions to as low as Rs 5 per kg for certain varieties.</p>.<p>The Government of India implemented the export ban from December 2023 to March 2024 due to soaring market rates and limited domestic availability.</p>.<p>Ravishankar B, secretary of the Bengaluru Potato and Onion Merchants Association, identified the export ban as a primary factor behind the price decline.</p>.Onion, tomato, poultry price fall makes home food cheaper by 3-5%.<p>He said: "If the ban is lifted and exports resume, we anticipate a price increase of Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg."</p>.<p>Countries including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia traditionally imported substantial quantities of onions from the state, he added.</p>.<p>Hopeful of reaping benefits like last year, many farmers cultivated onion as a second crop, said Mahanthesh, an onion farmer from Challakere, Chitradurga district. "Local farmers sowed too much until October-November, hoping to earn Rs 3,000 and more per quintal, the way they did last year. This has led to surplus supply,” he said. </p>.<p>He said the ban allowed flooding of onions from Maharashtra, preferred for export, further driving down demand for local produce. </p>.<p>At the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Yard, Yeshwantpur, onion wholesale prices currently range between Rs 5 and Rs 20 per kilogram, contingent on size and quality.</p>.<p>For the best quality onions, wholesale rates per kg are Rs 15 to Rs 20, Rs 10 to Rs 15 for second quality, and Rs 5 to Rs 10 for small-sized Golta onions.</p>.<p>Contrastingly, the previous month witnessed rates varying from Rs 25 to Rs 44 per kg for different sizes and qualities.</p>.<p>While retail markets in the city display significantly higher rates, a supermarket in Richmond Town offered one kg of onions at Rs 24, another in HAL 2nd Stage sold onions at Rs 35 per kg, and a small grocery store in Shanthala Nagar priced onions at Rs 40 per kg.</p>.<p>A store representative justified the higher price, saying: “We must account for fuel and transportation costs from the APMC Yard.”</p>