RANCHI, JAN. 14: Onion remains dearer in the kitchen despite claims that prices have come down, following countrywide IT raids on hoarders. Raids on wholesale onion markets throughout the state, including the state capital and Jamshedpur, have had a marginal effect on the prices though.

The Telegraph visited prominent wholesale as well as retail markets in Ranchi and Jamshedpur today to peel off the many layers of the onion trade and find out how its price changes on its journey to your kitchen

• Price of onion when a loaded truck from Nashik reaches Ranchi: Rs 32 per kg
• Price when a homemaker buys onion from a city market: Rs 45-56 per kg

DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Onion comes to the state capital from Nashik in Maharashtra. As many as 14 trucks, each loaded with 15 tonne onion, comes to Ranchi daily. It reaches the state capital’s first stage wholesale market known as Pandra Bazar Samiti. From there, wholesalers buy onion at Rs 32 per kg and take it to second stage wholesale markets in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Bokaro et al. At Daily Market, barely 6 km from Pandara, onion prices shoot up to Rs 40 per kg.

(From top) Onions from wholesale market, Pandra Bazar Samiti, being carried to local markets in Ranchi on Friday; a vendor sells onions at Lalpur Bazar. Pictures by Hardeep Singh

“The price is high at Nashik itself. At Pandara, we sell it at a profit of Rs 2 per kg to the next stage wholeseller or retailers. The government says we are hoarding. That’s wrong. If onions are kept for more than 3-4 days, they rot,” said Madan Prasad, a wholesaler

THE RETAIL

Retailers of onion at markets of Lalpur, Nagababa Khatal, Bahu Bazar, Ashok Nagar, Birsa Chowk, Kishore Nagar and Kanke Road buy onions from Pandra Bazar or Daily Market. Those who buy from Pandra Bazar, sell onion at prices that are less by Rs 4-5 per kg compared to retailers who buy their onions from Daily Market. Prices vary from market to market. But, generally the price is around Rs 45-55 per kg

THE MARK-UP

The rise in onion prices is nationwide and not limited to Jharkhand. But, since local production is negligible, the state has to depend on supplies from Nashik, Kolhapur, Allahabad and parts of Gujarat

CONSUMER CRY

Several households have consciously cut down on onion consumption. “Since we are primarily dependent on Nashik, our government should ensure irrigation facilities for farmers and encourage them to produce onion so that a permanent solution is found,” said Rubby Pathak, a homemaker

MINISTER’SMESSAGE

Food and civil supplies minister Mathura Prasad Mahto said the state was seized with the problem. “I have

already written to all deputy commissioners asking them to hold meetings with wholesalers to ensure consumers get onion at a fair price,” he said

LIKELY RELIEF

Pandra Bazar wholesalers say farmers in Nashik had begun harvesting a new onion crop and, therefore, prices were expected to drop to Rs 15 per kg in the next fortnight or so. “Prices had gone up as the last onion crop in Nashik had been ruined. Now, the farmers have got a bumper crop which should naturally bring down the prices,” said a wholesaler

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JAMSHEDPUR, JAN. 14: Onion remains dearer in the kitchen despite claims that prices have come down, following countrywide IT raids on hoarders. Raids on wholesale onion markets throughout the state, including the state capital and Jamshedpur, have had a marginal effect on the prices though.

The Telegraph visited prominent wholesale as well as retail markets in the steel city today to peel off the many layers of the onion trade and find out how its price changes on its journey to your kitchen

• Price of onion when a loaded truck from Nashik reaches Jamshedpur: Rs 36.50 per kg
• Price when a homemaker buys onion froma city market: Rs 45-55 per kg

DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

Onion comes to the state primarily from Nashik. Over the last month, only two trucks, each loaded with 12 tonne of onion, have been

reaching Sakchi Mandi against the usual four to five trucks. Few medium and small wholesalers at Bistupur buy from the Sakchi wholesale market. Retailers pick up stocks from either Sakchi or Bistupur, whileconsumers buy from local markets at Sonari, Kadma, Golmuri, Baridih and Sidhgora

WHOLESALE MARKET

(From top) Labourers at Sakchi vegetable mandi on Friday; onions on sale at a shop in Bistupur market. Pictures by Bhola Prasad

The wholesale price of onion at Sakchi Mandi ranged between Rs 45 and Rs 50 a kg over the past month. Today, the wholesale price ranged between Rs 40 and Rs 45, depending on quality

THE RETAIL

Price parity vanishes the moment onionhits retail markets because buyers do nothave the information retailers do about prices elsewhere. Today, onions were being sold atRs 55 per kg at local markets in Bistupur, Sonari and Sidhgora. Till yesterday, it wasas high as Rs 65 per kg.

“Difference in quality is responsible forprice variations,” said Sanjay Kumar, a trader at Sakchi, adding that there wasa variety “Chopra” which was being sold at Rs 28-30 per kg

THE MARK-UP

The rise in onion prices is nationwide and not limited to Jharkhand. But, since local production is negligible, the state has to depend on supplies from Nashik, Kolhapur, Allahabad and parts of Gujarat.

• Today’s buying price for wholesalers: Rs 36.50 per kg for a 45kg sack of onions
• Buying price for agents and retailers:Rs 40 per kg
• Buying price for consumers: Rs 45 - Rs 55 a kg

THE REAL PROBLEM

Onion prices started rising from Rs 16 a kg (end of November) in local markets to as high as Rs 70 per kg. Traders blamed winter rains for having damaged crops in Maharashtra. Jamshedpur, which largely depends on Nashik for its onion supply, also gets a small portion from Patamda in East Singhbhum.

“We depend on consignments from Nashik.The crisis of onions persisted due to a gapin demand and supply,” said Sanjay Kumar,a leading wholesale trader at Sakchi Mandi

CONSUMER CONCERN

The ire is directed at the government. “The government is to be blamed. Why can’t it impose a ban on onion export? There is no point in exporting onion when domestic requirements can’t be met,” said Madan Mohan Srivastava, who like many others have cut down on onion consumption ever since prices shot up

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

Food and civil supplies minister Mathura Prasad Mahto said the state was seized with the problem. “I have already written to all deputy commissioners asking them to hold meetings with wholesalers to ensure consumers get onion at a fair price,” he said

OFFICERSPEAK

Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Sunil Kumar Sinha said, “I have directed traders to ensure a steady supply of onions in the market and desist from creating an artificial crisis.” Also, the Krishi Utpad Bazaar Samity (KUBS) has been asked to verify wholesalers’ stocks regularly

LIKELY RELIEF

Wholesalers at Ranchi’s Pandra Bazar say farmers in Nashik had begun harvesting a new onion crop and, therefore, prices were expected to drop soon.

Sanjay Kumar, a leading trader at Sakchi Mandi, was hopeful. “We think things will improve as we are expecting the arrival of a new crop by January 20,” he said