Garlic prices rise as onion rates stay high
HYDERABAD: Garlic has touched ₹20,000 a quintal at Malakpet market, while red onion prices have risen by ₹200 a quintal, putting pressure on household budgets.
Garlic rises ₹1,000 in two days at Malakpet market
Garlic prices have been rising steadily in markets across the city, while onion prices continue to remain high. Ginger prices, meanwhile, have been fluctuating.
The rising prices have put pressure on low- and middle-income households. Families that earlier cooked two or three vegetable dishes a day are now cutting back and using ingredients more cautiously.
Some poor families are reportedly making do with half the quantity of vegetables they used earlier.
Lower onion yield pushes up market prices
Onion production has fallen sharply in neighbouring states this year amid drought conditions linked to El Nino.
Hyderabad receives large quantities of onions from Nashik in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Supplies also come from Mahabubnagar in Telangana and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.
Ginger comes mainly from Karnataka, Zaheerabad and Kohir, while garlic is brought in from Madhya Pradesh.
Traders said prices have risen as production has fallen in these regions this year. Old onion stocks were also damaged after getting wet, further pushing up prices in the market.
Hotels cut onions served with biryani
Hotels and restaurants are also reducing the quantity of onions served as salad with biryani, much like households are cutting back on their use.
Earlier, eateries would serve two lemon pieces and four onion pieces with biryani. With prices rising, many have reduced this to one or two onion pieces and are serving cucumber slices instead.
Several people also said onions were no longer being served with pani puri at some outlets.
