Onion traders in and around Nashik district who control the country's trade in the bulb have resumed purchase of the crop from farmers after officials warned them that their licenses to trade in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee yards would be cancelled.
Traders had been on strike since Thursday after the income-tax authorities raided seven of the biggest dealers in onions following intelligence reports that they were hoarding the crop in order to jack prices up later this year.
According to traders, auctions have begun in Pimpalgaon while Lasalgaon will open for business only from Tuesday because heavy rain caused flooding in the main market yard. District officials said they have deployed men and machinery to drain out the floodwaters.
The sudden rise in wholesale price of onions to Rs 2,700 per quintal sent alarm bells ringing in New Delhi since elections are due in some states in the coming months. Following the raids wholesale onion prices have come down to Rs 700 per quintal, officials said.
1 RS = 0.016 USD
Source: tribuneindia.com
