India, June 16 -- Wholesale onion prices at Lasalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), the country's largest onion trading hub, crossed the Rs.2,000-per-quintal mark on Monday for the first time since the arrival of the rabi (summer) crop this year.

According to Lasalgaon APMC officials, superior-quality onions fetched a maximum price of Rs.2,030 per quintal, compared to the Rs.1,500- Rs.1,700 range at which they had been trading since April.

Prices of lower-grade onions have also increased significantly. "Inferior-quality onions were auctioned at around Rs.1,300 per quintal on Monday, against Rs.800- Rs.1,000 per quintal earlier," an APMC official said.

Market authorities attributed the price rise to lower arrivals as man...