Onions are making people cry especially harder this festive season — their prices have doubled in just over a week, and traders say this is unlikely to improve anytime soon.

Onion prices that were

Rs 8-9 per kg in the wholesale market last week were Rs 15-16 on Saturday. Retail prices jumped from Rs 12 to Rs 20 per kg. This year’s inconsistent rain has wrecked havoc on crops and is being blamed for the price rise.

Ashok Karpe, a wholesaler at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee at Vashi, said: “The downpour in south India and Delhi destroyed the onion crop. Normally, this time of year, 30-40 vehicles carrying onions come to the market from Bangalore. That’s stopped, and whatever is coming is of poor quality.”

Potato prices continue to remain high since the last month.

“Potato prices have been hovering around Rs 16-17 per kg in the wholesale market since the last month — and things are not likely to improve soon,” wholesaler Ravindra Popley said. “The new crop is expected only by year end, and even that is unlikely to bring any respite since we’re going to see a shortfall because of the lack of rains.”