Explained: What is driving onion prices

Government has called for import of 1 lakh tonnes of onion to help control rising prices. What has been causing the increase in prices since May, and how far can the new move be expected to reverse the trend?

Onion prices, onion prices in India, onion prices in Delhi, onion rates, Express Explained, Indian Express

Fresh onion arrivals in a wholesale market in Pune. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)

LAST WEEK, Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, directed the state-owned trading corporation MMTC to import 1 lakh tonnes of onions to help ease the spike in retail prices. The decision marks India’s transition from being an onion exporter to an importer.