Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said onion prices will ease in the next two-three weeks as fresh output arrives from Maharashtra and other states.

Talking to News Agency the Minister said supplies are also likely to improve as small quantities of imported onions have arrived, while outward shipments have slowed after a minimum export price was reimposed.

Mr Pawar said the rise in onion prices has contributed to inflation, while prices of other food items such as rice and wheat have been stable.

Onion prices have shot up sharply in both wholesale and retail markets across the country. In the national capital, the retail price of onions is currently as high as 70-80 rupees per kg compared with 22 per kg rupees a year earlier.