The Centre is considering imposing stock limits on onion traders as the retail prices of the key kitchen staple have shot up to Rs 70-80 per kg in the national capital and other parts of the country owing to supply disruption in the wake of excess monsoon rains in the major growing states, according to sources.

According to data maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, retail prices rose to Rs 57 per kg in Delhi, Rs 56 per kg in Mumbai, Rs 48 per kg in Calcutta and Rs 34 per kg in Chennai last week. The prices were quoted at Rs 60 a kg in Gurgaon and Jammu during the same period.

However, trade data showed retail prices skyrocketing to Rs 70-80 per kg towards the end of the last week from Rs 50-60a kg in the previous week.

Onion prices are on the rise despite several measures taken by the government to boost supply. “The government has taken several measures in the last few weeks to improve the domestic supply and check further increase in prices of onion. However, retail prices have suddenly shot up in the last 2-3 days because of supply disruption due to excess rains in the growing states,” a source said.

It is a short-term supply disruption and if the situation does not normalise in the next 2-3 days and prices rise, the government may consider imposing stock holding limits on onion traders, the source said.

According to the Met department, main onion producing regions, especially Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, eastern Rajasthan and western Madhya Pradesh, have received excess rainfall in the last two days.