Indian bad weather affects price of onions in Maldives again

The price of onions in the Maldivian local markets has once again increased.

Currently, a sack of onions previously sold for around MVR 150-200 is priced at MVR 1000-1500. A kilo of onions is priced around MVR 60-70, which is a stark increase from the previous price of MVR 10-15.

The price of onions last increased around October due to controls levied on Indian exported onions. However, discussions held between the governments of the two countries saw the price of onions once again return to normal by the end of October.

India is the biggest exporter of onions to the Maldives. The current price fluctuation is due to bad weather experienced in Indian onion producing states. States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya, Uttar, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Bihar are experiencing heavy rainfall that has damaged some of the crops and raised the price of onions in India as well.

Maharashtra state produces the most onions out of all these states. The state alone produced one-third of all onions produced in India.