New Delhi: The prices of Onion have increased to Rs 80 per kg, emptying the pockets of consumers. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said he is “helpless” in controlling its price.
The factors attributed to increase in the prices include decrease in the production because area under Onion cultivation had reduced to 1.90 lakh hectares in 2017-18 compared to 2.65 lakh hectares in 2016-17.
When questioned about the increase in prices, the Union Minister replied that “Pyaaz ki qeemat kam karna mere haath mein nahi (I am helpless in controlling the price of onion),”
He further said that “The Centre is working towards this with full force. We hope prices will go down. I don’t have an answer if you ask me when and how will it go down.”
The other reasons for decreased production is that Onion producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka have seen slump in their production.