NASHIK: The supply of fresh kharif onion has increased at the Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), with over one lakh quintal having been auctioned in just four days, from Monday to Thursday.The increase in supply has led to a drop in the average wholesale onion price from Rs 440 per quintal to Rs 400 per quintal at the APMC, the country's largest wholesale onion market."Around 23,000 quintal of onions were auctioned at Lasalgaon on Monday, 29,000 on Tuesday, a record 34,000 on Wednesday and 25,000 on Friday," said sources.The shelf life of kharif onions is less than 25 days. Hence, farmers have no option but to sell their produce at the prevailing market rates. The harvest of fresh onions has picked up in the district and farmers are bringing their produce to wholesale markets immediately, which has led to a rise in the supply.The harvest of new kharif onions is expected to continue by mid-March and arrival of summer variety is expected to begin next month. The supply is expected to increase more from next month as both fresh kharif onions and new summer onions will arrive together in the market.Summer onions have a shelf life of around six months and farmers prefer to store them in the hope of better prices.The state government has decided to give relief to loss-making onion farmers by extending an ex-gratia payment of Rs 200 per quintal, for which Rs150-crore has been allocated by the state cabinet.

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