Haryana: Onion Prices Double In 10 Days, Dry Fruit Rates Climb Ahead Of Festive Rush; Sugar Gets Cheaper

Sandeep Kumar, Sonipat: Prices of onions, vegetables, fruits and other essential kitchen items have risen noticeably in recent weeks, putting additional pressure on household budgets. Heavy rainfall, crop damage, disrupted transportation and increased festive demand are being cited as the main reasons for the price rise.

The retail price of onions, which was around Rs 40 per kilogram just ten days ago, has increased to Rs 65-70 per kilogram. In the wholesale market, onions are being sold at Rs 45-55 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the retail price of sugar has declined from Rs 70 to Rs 62 per kilogram.

The rise in food prices has particularly affected middle-class and low-income households, which are having to adjust their monthly budgets to cope with higher costs of vegetables, fruits, pulses and other essentials.

Heavy Rainfall Hits Vegetable Supply
Recent heavy rainfall has damaged crops in several areas, with waterlogging causing harvested green vegetables to rot before reaching the markets. Transportation from other states has also been affected, reducing the supply arriving at wholesale markets.

A local vegetable vendor in Sonipat said, “Due to continuous rainfall, fields are waterlogged, causing harvested green vegetables to rot even before reaching the markets. Consignments of onions and garlic are arriving in lower quantities. Produce is expensive at the wholesale level, and on top of that, demand for fasting-friendly vegetables has suddenly increased due to Janmashtami. Until the weather clears and regular supplies of the new crop begin, relief from high prices is unlikely.”

Festive Demand Pushes Up Fruit and Dry Fruit Prices

The impact of higher prices is also visible in the fruit and dry fruit markets ahead of Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Demand for fruits and dry fruits has increased due to fasting and religious offerings.

Cashews are selling at around Rs 1,000 per kilogram, almonds at Rs 900-1,080 per kilogram, and pistachios at Rs 1,400-1,700 per kilogram. Among fruits, apples are priced at up to Rs 150 per kilogram, while mangoes are selling for Rs 300-350 per kilogram. Prices of bananas and pomegranates, however, have softened slightly.

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Fruit vendor Vinod from Sonipat said, “Rain has driven up transportation costs. Apples and mangoes arriving from outside markets are selling at high rates. However, with steady local supplies, the prices of seasonal fruits and guavas have declined slightly. There has also been some softening in the prices of bananas and pomegranates. Yet, because dry fruits remain expensive, customers are purchasing fruits strictly according to their needs. Sales are not what they should be during a festival.”

Vegetable Price Comparison Table (in Rs per kg)

Market prices continue to depend largely on supply and demand. While increased arrivals can bring prices down, limited supplies tend to push them higher. With the monsoon continuing to affect transportation and agricultural production, prices of some fruits and vegetables could remain under pressure in the coming days.

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Price Comparison

Dryfruits (in Rs per kg)