New Delhi, Jan 1: Onion prices today rose by Rs 5 per kg to Rs 45 in wholesale markets here due to erratic supplies, but traders said rates are expected to decline by about half after January 15.
 In retail markets of the metros, onion prices continue to rule at high level of Rs 40-60/kg, according to reports from these centres.
 However, according to the government data, retail onion prices stood at Rs 52/kg in Delhi and Mumbai, Rs 50/kg in Chennai and Rs 40/kg in Kolkata on December 31, 2010.
 "Prices of premium quality onion have risen to Rs 45/kg today in Delhi's Azadpur wholesale market from Rs 40/kg yesterday," Tomato and Onion Merchant Association General Secretary Rajendra Sharma told PTI.
 Sharma pointed out that arrivals have been very erratic in the Azadpur mandi, the Asia's biggest wholesale market for fruit and vegetables.
 In last ten days, the arrival at Azadpur has been uneven between 400 and 1,000 tonnes. Supply of imported onions from Pakistan is also not consistent, he added.
 "By this time, arrivals from Rajasthan could have softened onion prices but unseasonal rains in the state has delayed harvesting," Sharma said.
 However, he expressed confidence that the wholesale prices of onion are expected to decline to Rs 20/kg in the national capital after January 15, when the fresh crop from the late kharif begins.
 Onion prices had skyrocketed to Rs 70-80/kg in major cities because of damage to crop due to rains in key growing states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
 To increase domestic supplies and bring down prices, the government has banned export of onion for indefinite period and has also reduced duty on imports to zero level.
 The country's total production of onion, which is cultivated thrice a year, stood at 12 million tonnes in 2009-10.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 1 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 1 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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