The price of onions has gone up rapidly in the local market thanks to the rise in the prices in the Indian market.

The price of onions has reached to Rs.32.20 per kg on Sunday at the Kalimati fruits and vegetable market up from Rs.28 per kg last Tuesday. The price was only Rs.16 at the same period last year.

Talking to Nepalnews, spokesperson of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Committee Arjun Prashad Aryal informed that price of onions as compared to the last year was similar till the end of August, but the price soared up from the first week of September and has continued till date.

Aryal informed that the price soared up in the local market due to the price rise in Indian market as Nepal largely depends on India for onions.

According to statistics of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Committee, of the total 9,066 metric tones of onion consumed from the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market last year 8,927 metric tones were imported from India. Nepal imported only a negligible quantity of 12 metric tones of onion from Tibet in the same period.

Aryal, however said that the hike in price of onions might not have grave impact in the consumers as they could change their priority.

When asked why Nepal does not increase import from Tibet to cope the price rise, Aryal said the taste of onion imported from Tibet is different and added it is also not feasible to increase the import, as Nepalese entrepreneurs do not have good trade relations with Tibetan entrepreneurs.

India, which is the major exporter of onion to Nepal, itself is importing onion from Pakistan to overcome the shortage.

Last week’s heavy rain in the Nasik belt of India is attributed to the shortage of onions in India, which has ultimately contributed for the rise in the prices.

The price of onions has gone up in the Indian market due to the uncertainty over how much onions will come from different states.