Onion Prices Surge to ₹70/kg Across Odisha Amid Supply Crunch

Onion prices have surged across Odisha, with retail rates touching around ₹70 per kg in several markets as reduced supplies drive up prices.

Markets in Balasore, Berhampur, Bolangir and Cuttack have reported a sharp rise in rates. At Cuttack’s Chhatra Bazar, traders said the market, which earlier received five to six trucks of onions daily, is now getting only one or two trucks occasionally.

Odisha depends heavily on supplies from other states, particularly Maharashtra, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, as onion cultivation within the state remains limited. Traders have attributed the latest price rise partly to reduced availability from Maharashtra, where weather conditions have reportedly affected cultivation and supplies.

The supply crunch has also increased uncertainty for retailers, while consumers say they are being forced to cut down on purchases and tighten household budgets.

Experts, however, expect onion prices to ease after mid-September if market arrivals improve. Consumers have urged the government to ensure adequate supplies and check further price escalation.