Telangana onion prices have risen to Rs.80 per kg in several markets as reduced arrivals from major producing regions tighten supplies and increase pressure on household budgets. Retail prices have climbed from around Rs.40 per kg to Rs.60 and then Rs.80 in recent days, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle.
The increase is also visible in Hyderabad’s wholesale market. Traders at the Malakpet onion market said daily arrivals, which were earlier around 25,000 bags, have declined to nearly 15,000–17,000 bags. The lower availability has contributed to rising prices in Telangana’s retail and wholesale markets.
Telangana receives a significant share of its onion supplies from Nashik in Maharashtra, one of India’s major onion-producing centres. These consignments are transported to markets in Peddapalli, Karimnagar, Jagtial, Sircilla and other parts of the State. The State also receives onions from Karnataka and the Kurnool region of Andhra Pradesh.
Traders attributed the supply shortage to delays in the arrival of the new crop and adverse weather conditions in key growing regions. Heavy rains in parts of Maharashtra have reportedly inundated some onion fields, while inadequate rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh, including Kurnool and Anantapur, has affected crop production.
The price rise has changed the quantity that consumers can buy with the same household budget. Earlier, Rs.100 could purchase nearly 3 kg of onions. At current retail prices, that amount buys substantially less, increasing the cost of a basic kitchen staple for urban and rural households across Telangana.
The disruption is not limited to Telangana. Traders said onion prices have risen in several major cities and States, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and the Telugu States, as arrivals from important producing regions remain lower. Telangana’s dependence on Maharashtra is particularly significant because of the quality and availability of onions produced there, making supply disruptions in that State directly visible in Telangana markets.
Farmers said they are currently receiving returns that are around 30–40 per cent higher than in earlier periods because of the prevailing prices. The increase at the farm and wholesale end, however, is being passed on to consumers through higher retail prices.
Traders said the Kharif onion crop has not yet arrived in sufficient quantities. Prices are expected to remain firm until fresh arrivals increase, with the situation potentially improving around December when the new crop is expected to reach markets in larger volumes.
