Nashik: Average wholesale onion prices at Lasalgaon APMC, the country’s largest onion market, increased sharply over the past two trading sessions, crossing Rs4,250 per quintal on Monday amid tightening supplies and sustained demand. The rise in prices has prompted central agencies to begin releasing buffer stock onions in major consumption centres to contain retail prices.The average wholesale price at Lasalgaon rose by nearly 15%, climbing from approximately Rs3,700 per quintal on Friday to Rs4,251 per quintal on Monday. During the day’s auction, the market recorded a maximum price of Rs4,545 per quintal and a minimum of Rs1,000 per quintal, with around 10,220 quintals traded.This price hike is already being reflected in retail markets across the country, where onion prices have reached Rs50–Rs65 per kg in several major cities. In Nashik, good-quality onions were sold at around Rs50 per kg on Monday, and traders expect further increases if arrivals remain subdued.In response, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) have initiated the release of onions from the central buffer stock. The stock is being dispatched to key consumption hubs, including Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, and Guwahati.Sources in the central agencies said approximately 800 metric tonnes (MT) of onions are scheduled to be transported from Nashik to Delhi by rail on Tuesday. The move aims to improve supply in markets witnessing higher retail prices and prevent sharp spikes in consumer rates.Under the price stabilisation fund (PSF), the Centre had assigned a procurement target of 2 lakh MT of onions to NAFED and NCCF (1 lakh MT each). However, the two agencies have together managed to procure only around 1.15 lakh MT of summer onions so far. Of this, NAFED procured about 56,000 MT, while NCCF purchased around 59,000 MT from Nashik and other onion-growing regions of Maharashtra.APMC officials attributed the price rise primarily to lower arrivals. Daily arrivals have dropped significantly over the past three to four weeks, falling from around 15,000 quintals to about 9,000 quintals. Ongoing rain and kharif sowing activities have kept many farmers occupied, meaning only those requiring immediate funds are bringing their stored onions to the market.The onions currently arriving are summer crops harvested in March and April and stored by farmers. These onions generally have a shelf life of five to six months and are released gradually based on market prices and financial needs. Fresh kharif onions are not expected to reach the markets until mid-October.Meanwhile, Pimpalgaon APMC, another major market, recorded an average wholesale price of Rs4,400 per quintal on Monday. The minimum and maximum prices stood at Rs2,500 and Rs5,060 per quintal, respectively, with approximately 21,700 quintals traded during the day.