Mumbai:
Onions at Rs 12 a kilo! Finding that hard to buy? Well, Deepak Kedare from Lasalgaon, Maharashtra's largest onion producing area, is making it possible. Kedare buys his product from the farmer, and sells it directly to the consumer.
"I sell onions at Rs 12/kg to Rs 15/kg. It is possible to sell it at this price because I buy it from the farmers directly," said Deepak Kedare, an onion trader.
With an option to buy onions this cheap, consumers are lining up quickly.
"I went to the market to buy onions, but it was very expensive there. Here I am getting it cheap. The whole sack comes for Rs 150," said Ghanshyam Malpanin, a shopper.
Contrast this with what consumers are paying on average in Mumbai - Rs 60 to 80 per kilo. The only ones not feeling the sting are middlemen who make a killing as the onion travels from Lasalgaon to the wholesale market in Navi Mumbai and then to the markets.
"We sell at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kilo. All those who have stocks have stored it to sell it later at a higher price. They think they will sell it at a higher price later, they think they will earn slowly," said Raju, a vegetable vendor.
As consumers wait for food prices to fall, it's people like Deepak Kedare, who are bringing some cheer at least when it comes to onions.