Small onion prices have crossed ₹150 a kg in Kolenchery near Kochi after rising from ₹70 within a week, putting pressure on household food budgets as fresh arrivals from Tamil Nadu remain limited because of heavy rain.
The retail price of small onions, also known as shallots, crossed ₹150 a kg on Thursday, according to a report by Kerala Kaumudi – Kochi. Traders said the market is currently relying mainly on old stock because the arrival of newly harvested onions has fallen.
Garlic prices have also increased, reaching ₹260 a kg. In contrast, there has been no significant change in the price of large onions, which are being sold at around ₹60 a kg. The different price movement shows how supply conditions for individual vegetables can vary even within the same retail market.
Traders said small onions supplied to the Pollachi market generally come from areas including Avinashipalayam, Palanthurai, Anamalai and Varapatti. From there, the produce moves into markets serving consumers in Kerala. Heavy rain has delayed harvesting in these growing areas, reducing the volume of fresh onions available for wholesale and retail sale.
The immediate impact is being felt by consumers who are already facing higher kitchen expenses. The price increase has come ahead of the Diwali market, when traders and households typically prepare for increased buying. Consumers quoted in the report expressed concern that prices could rise further before the festival.
The supply chain currently depends on older onions held in stock, traders said. That stock is being sold while harvesting of the new crop remains delayed because of persistent rain. The resulting gap between available supply and normal market demand has pushed up retail prices in Kolenchery.
A representative of R.V. Garlic, a super-wholesaler in Coimbatore, said the price could fall after Diwali. Traders expect fresh small onions to reach the market within one or two weeks, after which the retail price could decline to around ₹80 a kg. That estimate depends on harvesting resuming and new arrivals reaching the Pollachi market as expected.
For households, the price movement highlights how weather-related disruptions in agricultural districts can quickly affect urban and semi-urban food budgets. In this case, the reported chain runs from delayed harvesting in Tamil Nadu to lower wholesale availability and higher retail prices in Kerala. The next key indicator will be the arrival of fresh small onion consignments over the coming one to two weeks.
