Onion remains largely stable despite weekly dip

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare data shows divergent price trends across key agricultural commodities, with tomato prices witnessing a sharp spike, while potato prices continue to decline significantly on a year-on-year basis.

As per wholesale mandi data released by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, tomato prices stood at Rs 1,977.13 per quintal as on April 21, 2026, registering a steep increase of 95.61 per cent year-on-year and 40.53 per cent over the past month, reflecting supply-side pressures and seasonal volatility. On a weekly basis, tomato prices rose 24.75 per cent, indicating a sharp near-term escalation.

In contrast, potato prices were reported at Rs 679.42 per quintal, showing a 12.82 per cent increase over the past week and 11.86 per cent rise over the month. However, on a longer-term basis, prices remain under pressure, declining 41.46 per cent year-on-year and 59.31 per cent over two years, suggesting persistent oversupply and weaker demand dynamics.

Onion prices stood at Rs 1,064.93 per quintal, witnessing a 2.28 per cent decline over the past week and a 10.37 per cent drop over the month. On a yearly basis, onion prices remained largely stable with a marginal decline of 1.09 per cent, although they are still 32.39 per cent higher compared to three years ago.

The data, highlights the contrasting price movements across essential vegetables, underscoring the volatility inherent in agricultural markets driven by weather patterns, supply disruptions and demand fluctuations. The sharp rise in tomato prices, in particular, may have implications for retail inflation, while the continued weakness in potato prices could impact farmer realisations.