Monday Mandi Pulse: Market Opening Prices & Week-on-Week Trends सोमवार मंडी पल्स: मार्केट ओपनिंग भाव एवं साप्ताहिक रुझान

 📊 Most Volatile Commodities Across Mandis in North India

🗓️ Period Covered: Last 6 Months

📍 Region Focus: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi

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1. Introduction

Agricultural commodity prices across mandis in North India are subject to high volatility due to seasonal cycles, market dynamics, climatic conditions, and logistical issues. This report identifies and compares the top volatile commodities across major mandis, aiming to provide insights to policymakers, farmers, and traders.

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2. Methodology

• Data Source: Agmarknet, state mandi boards, and local procurement data
• Timeframe: October 2024 to March 2025
• Commodities Covered: Wheat, Mustard, Onion, Potato, Tomato, Cauliflower, Green Chili, Garlic

3. Top 5 Most Volatile Commodities (Based on CV%)

Rank	Commodity	Avg. CV (%)	Highly Affected States	Peak Volatility Months
1	Onion	85%	Rajasthan, UP, Delhi	Nov–Jan
2	Tomato	78%	Himachal Pradesh, Punjab	Oct–Dec, Feb
3	Garlic	66%	Rajasthan, Haryana	Jan–Mar
4	Green Chili	58%	UP, Haryana	Nov–Feb
5	Cauliflower	55%	Punjab, Uttarakhand	Nov–Dec

 4. Commodity-wise Analysis

🧅 Onion

• Most Volatile: Azadpur (Delhi), Alwar (Rajasthan), Agra (UP)
• Reason: Sudden export bans, storage limitations, high perishability
• Price Movement: ₹8/kg to ₹45/kg within 4 weeks (Nov–Dec)

🍅 Tomato

• Mandis Monitored: Solan, Shimla, Ludhiana
• Reason: Supply disruption due to cold waves, poor transport, sudden demand shifts
• Trend: Major dip in Jan; sharp recovery in Feb

🧄 Garlic

• Mandis: Kota, Bharatpur, Karnal
• Issue: High export interest vs. domestic demand fluctuation
• Volatility Trigger: Unseasonal rainfall affecting harvest

🌶️ Green Chili

• Mandis: Muzaffarnagar, Sonipat
• Factors: Sensitive to temperature and moisture; supply shortage spikes prices

🥦 Cauliflower

• Mandis: Roorkee, Amritsar
• Volatility Driver: Glut post-harvest leading to distress sales

5. State-wise Volatility Summary

State	Most Volatile Commodity	Primary Reason
Punjab	Tomato, Cauliflower	Cold chain issues, oversupply
Haryana	Green Chili, Garlic	Weather disruptions
Uttar Pradesh	Onion, Green Chili	Storage challenges, local consumption
Rajasthan	Onion, Garlic	Export variation, seasonal glut
Himachal Pradesh	Tomato	Climate impact on yields
Uttarakhand	Cauliflower	Lack of storage, local surplus
Delhi	Onion	Supply chain bottlenecks

6. Key Insights

• Perishables dominate volatility charts – lack of cold storage is a core issue.
• Policy Changes – sudden export bans or MEP (Minimum Export Price) affect garlic and onion prices.
• Market Linkages – Volatility is higher in mandis farther from production centers or lacking direct procurement.

7. Recommendations

1. Invest in cold storage and processing units in high-volatility zones.
2. Real-time price dissemination through mobile alerts for farmers.
3. Flexible MSP or procurement systems during high volatility seasons.
4. Promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to enhance bargaining power.

8. Conclusion

Understanding price volatility patterns in North Indian mandis is crucial for efficient market operations and farmer income stability. This report highlights the top volatile commodities and underscores the need for policy and infrastructural interventions.